Adopting Stepdaughter - Advice Please

[geotek]

i'll give a quick summary of the situation - i married my Thai wife 5years ago in Thailand, i am a British Citizen but 4 years ago moved to Cyprus with my wife and my stepdaughter, where we have been living happily, and my wife and i have since had 2 sons. My stepdaughter is now 10, and has been going to school here for those 4 years. In my heart she is my daughter, and in hers , im her dad. We all have my surname except her (she has her mothers maiden name) which can cause her and others confusion at times. So i really would like to legally adopt her. We are coming back to Thailand soon for 3months, and was wondering if legally adopting her is possible in that short time. Her biological father is not on the birth certificate, under father's name my wife chose to write 'No father' as he was a bad man (thats the short story and not important). Just wondering if anyone can advise me from experience , the best way on how to go about adopting her legally, and if there are any papers i would need to bring from Cyprus. Thanks in advance for your time and efforts.

[Mario2008]

Can't give you much information, but you will not be able to do it in 3 months time. First they will try to determine who the father is and try to locate him. The father has to give permission, but a judge can give approval instead of the fahter incase aproval can't be found. Based on the little information you give, I see no reason why a judge wouldn't give permission in case the father refuses, as the father is a complete strnager to the child and hasn't shown any interest in the child.

Living abroad might complicate matters.

[ludditeman]

As there is no father on the birth certificate, you could just go to the Amphur office with daughter and wife and acknowledge her as your biological daughter. If daughter and wife both confirm it, it will be done instantly and the daughter will have British citizenship.

No need for any legal rubbish at all. No need for anyone to ever know different.

[geotek]

thanks both for your replies. Mario - the father is not on the birth certificate so he shouldnt be an issue from what i understand.

Ludditeman - interesting suggestion. Do you know from anyones experience if that is actually possible? ive just presumed that they would ask for a test of some sort to prove im her biological father eg dna/blood test. Job done if what you say is possible

[ludditeman]

thanks both for your replies. Mario - the father is not on the birth certificate so he shouldnt be an issue from what i understand.

Ludditeman - interesting suggestion. Do you know from anyones experience if that is actually possible? ive just presumed that they would ask for a test of some sort to prove im her biological father eg dna/blood test. Job done if what you say is possible

Amphur office just require child old enough to understand (usually 7+, but some will accept younger)

UK passport dept. never require any testing.

Edited January 24, 2012 by ludditeman

[colinp]

As there is no father on the birth certificate, you could just go to the Amphur office with daughter and wife and acknowledge her as your biological daughter. If daughter and wife both confirm it, it will be done instantly and the daughter will have British citizenship.

No need for any legal rubbish at all. No need for anyone to ever know different.

Does the marriage need to be registered in the UK for this?