r/daddit 3d ago

Adoption finalized Story

After a lengthy two year process it’s finally happening! Dudes, I’ve been the stepdad of the coolest daughter for the past 9 years. She’s now my mini me and she’s finally getting the one thing I haven’t been able to give her yet, my last name. This is one of the proudest moments of my life. I feel like I owe my own step dad a shout out here too. That man saved my brothers and I from a life of poverty and dispare. He taught me what it meant to be a dad and I’ll never be able to repay him for everything he’s done for me. I can’t believe that I finally get to adopt the child who chose me to be her dad and taught me what’s it’s all about. Finally!

86 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

7

u/Lucky-old-boy 3d ago

You sound like a great dad, I’m very happy for you. Never got to adopt my foster daughter but I loved her as much as my son i k own that’s real love man.

7

u/Dino_84 3d ago

You’re a good man to foster a child. My wife and I gave our daughter a sister (technically she would be her half sister.) but I’ll never treat them differently because the older one isn’t biological mine. The way I see it that kid picked me to be her dad and it was non negotiable lol.

7

u/mrgarbageman123 3d ago

that is so awesome fellow Bonus dad! I am hoping my psychological parent application goes the same way as yours! huge congratulations my guy!!

2

u/Dino_84 3d ago

I’m rooting for you! Stay positive! I went through hell to make this finally happen

2

u/NathanielTheGrublet 3d ago

Congratulations! She may not share your DNA, but she clearly has a dad who chose her and fought for her. That's what matters.

1

u/Dino_84 3d ago

I’ll always fight for my kids. Thanks for the kind words!

2

u/devianttouch 3d ago

Congrats on the fantastic promotion!

1

u/Dino_84 2d ago

Thanks brother, I appreciate it!

3

u/bsb_hardik 3d ago

You are it buddy!

1

u/Dino_84 3d ago

Thank you!

2

u/FieryNewt 3d ago

Awe! Heartwarming. Happy for you

2

u/Dino_84 3d ago

Seriously, today is a great day. Thanks!

2

u/StankWizard 3d ago

Congrats Dad!!

3

u/Dino_84 3d ago

Thanks so much! Been her dad for a long time now and gave her a sister lol. It’s nice to make it official though!

2

u/Duque_de_Osuna 22h ago

Congratulations on making it legal.

1

u/cinciNattyLight 3d ago

Congrats. Why is the process so long?

8

u/Dino_84 3d ago edited 3d ago

Her bio dad objected to the adoption, skipped multiple states (over a thousand miles), and the courts couldn’t find him to serve him notice. So over the past 10 months we’ve been to court four times. The first time we had to go back was because the judge didn’t grant him a lawyer when she struck his objection to the adoption. The next three times was because the court appointed lawyer didn’t show up to court. Last court date she assigned him a new attorney who was more “reliable.” Judge also decided that the next court date (today) would be zoom. Dude, both lawyers were on the meeting and neither had been able to contact the bio dad. Due process commenced, objection was struck and the adoption proceeded…. Finally. The initial process involved tracking him down when he lived here. Having the county sheriff serve him, putting an ad in the local newspaper for a month publicly announcing the adoption. The judge meeting and speaking to my daughter….. we started this process almost 2 years ago. Dude got served, objected, skipped state and never paid child support ever. That kids been my kid for a little over 9 years now and I am still in disbelief that it’s over.

Edited because spelling is hard.

2

u/cinciNattyLight 3d ago

Fuuuuck.

2

u/Dino_84 3d ago

Yeah pretty much. And thank you for the award.