Consent - If the father has contacted or financially provides for the child on a monthly basis.Consent - If the biological father has shown intent to be a father.Consent - If the father was married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth.No consent - If mother has a mental illness and cannot make sound decisions for herself.No consent - If mother has abandoned the child for at least six months and has not made any attempts to care for the child.Below are ways to determine if you will need to get consent before proceeding with the adoption. Either way, you always have to serve the parents with a notice of proceedings, so they are aware that their child is being put up for adoption. In most of these cases, the parents willingly give the child to the relative, but there are some cases where the person seeking to adopt will have to get consent from the biological parents. This gives the child familiarity and the biological parents may still be able to visit. The caregiver may want to officially adopt the child to keep him or her out of foster care. Some private placements occur when a parent is having problems and opts to leave the child in the care of a family member or close friend. While stepping outside the traditional boundaries of an adoptive agency, private placement is still governed by New York State law. In a private placement adoption, the adopting parents enter into a private contract with the birth mother or parents. Stepparent adoptions can be quite emotional and require clear counsel to be navigated successfully. In order for such an arrangement to be finalized, the biological parents must provide consent or be unable to do so for serious reasons. When a child is adopted by a stepparent, it is considered a stepparent adoption. Each one has its own unique set of stipulations and requirements, so it is highly recommended you speak with a family law attorney before taking any immediate steps: Stepparent Adoption There are a number of options that prospective parents have when choosing to adopt. What Are The Different Types of Adoption? There are background checks, medical examinations, home studies, financial reviews, and other guidelines to be met before the requesting family can fully take on the responsibility. That said, New York courts require adoptive parents to be qualified and to receive certification from a number of agencies. The courts will look at the nature of the crime and how long ago it was to determine your eligibility. Having a criminal history doesn’t automatically count you out either. Whether you are married, unmarried, single, recently divorced, or even a minor who has been emancipated by marriage - you can adopt.