How can I get sole custody (if that's the correct term).

[EchoOfADistantTide]

I'll try and keep this brief...

DD is 16, not sen her bio father for nearly 14 years, I've had no contact with him in that time either, in any way, shape or form. He instigated the break in contact.

I wasn't married to her father, never lived with him, he doesn't have joint parental responsibility.

I've been married for 12 years, have a child with DH. DD's surname legally changed to DH's.

Have lived overseas for 11 years as an expat (not in mine or DH's country).

Trying to immigrate to DH's home country and are there now. New country's immigration want proof of sole custody or bio father's permission for her to immigrate.

Getting permission unlikely as I don't know where DD's father is.

Can I apply to the courts to get sole custody legally?

TIA.

That's how I'm hoping to pitch it - do as I ask and we will slink back into oblivion. Refuse to comply and I'll involve the legal system which will probably be a lot messier for him.

He has never been given PR in any country. If he had in the UK I'm sure I would have heard about it.
In the other countries we've lived in between the UK and Canada, her bio father has never been mentioned so no way would he have been awarded any rights.

Surely if he is not on the birth certificate, that is your proof.

He is on the birth certificate.

How long did it take for the courts to do their bit, VG? How long do they wait for a response?

I don't know how to get around that.

As an update, the info I gave must have been sufficient because today I got notification that we've been approved by immigration.

That has drastically reduced the amount of stress, time and expense I was expecting.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but we're sorted. Immigration don't seem to see an issue after all and I've been told we're approved for permanent residence :)