Here is a quick run down.
My ex and I have a daughter together.
We split up when she was 2.
She met another guy and had another daughter with him 2 years after we broke up.
He left not long after and I have always just included her (the duaghter that isnt biologicaly mine) along with what ever I did with my actual daughter.
Well at some point I have grown to love her just like she was my own and as far as anyone is concerned she is my daughter.
Anyways I would like to make her legaly mine as would she.
Her mother is all for it also. We have been sepereted for several years but we get along fine and raise these two kids together just from seperate homes.
Is there anyway I can become her legal father even though her mother and I are not married. Her biologicaly father is no where to be found. He took off for N.Carolina years ago.

I greatly thank anyone who can help me with this.

Statutes:

Website for Statutes:
http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?
Citations:
Adoption: Title VI, Chapter 63
Child Protection: Title V, Chapter 39, parts I through III
Child Welfare: Title V, Chapters 39, parts IV through XIII


Circumstances That Are Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights
� 39.806


The parent has abandoned the child.
The parent is unable to discharge his or her parental duties due to extended incarceration or there has been a finding that the parent is a:
Violent career criminal
Habitual violent felony offender
Sexual predator
The parent has subjected the child to egregious conduct, including abuse, abandonment, or neglect that is flagrant or outrageous by a normal standard of conduct.
The parent has subjected the child to an aggravated child abuse, as defined in � 827.03, that includes sexual battery, sexual abuse, or chronic abuse.
Reasonable efforts to rehabilitate the parent have failed.
The parent has been convicted of:
Murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent
Aiding, abetting, attempting, or soliciting to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent
A felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent
Parental rights to another child of the parent have been involuntarily terminated.



Who Must Consent to an Adoption
Citation: � 63.062


The mother
The father, if the child was conceived or born while he was married to the mother or he otherwise has established paternity
Any person lawfully entitled to custody
If parental rights have been terminated, the adoption entity with which the minor is placed



Age When Consent of Adoptee is Considered or Required
Citation: � 63.062(1)(c)

A child 12 years of age or older must consent, unless the court determines it is in the child's best interest to dispense with consent.


When Parental Consent is not Needed
Citation: � 63.089


The parent has abandoned the child, which may be established from marginal efforts to assume parental responsibility.
Parental rights have been terminated.
The parent is mentally incompetent.
A guardian or custodian is found to be withholding consent unreasonably.




Who May Adopt
Citation: Ann. Stat. � 63.042
The following persons may adopt:

A husband and wife jointly
An unmarried adult
A married person without a spouse if excused by the court for good cause shown
No person is eligible to adopt if that person is a homosexual.


Who May Be Adopted
Citation: Ann. Stat. � 63.042
Any person, a minor or an adult, may be adopted.

Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Citation: Ann. Stat. �� 63.022; 63.202
A child may be placed by any of the following:

A parent or intermediary who must report any placement to the Department of Children and Family Services, , except for relative, adult, or stepparent adoptions
A child-placing agency that is licensed by the department

Thank you.
I guess I need to contact a lawyer now.

Yea, they are kind of helpful. I wish you success and I hope you found some of the information helpful.

Good Luck!

OSM