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Yes, once Ralph is 18, Walter could adopt him based solely on Ralph's consent, without Drew - or Paige, for that matter - having any say. If either Walter or Ralph were married, their spouse(s) would have to give consent. If an adult is adopted by someone, their legal ties with their birth parent(s) are severed - except when one of the birth parents is married to the adopting parent.
It is sometimes possible to adopt a child without the parent's consent if you can get the court to terminate that parent's rights - usually because of abandonment or abuse. By most legal definitions, Drew has not committed abuse and since he is not the custodial parent, he can only be accused of abandonment if he fails to provide financial support or make any attempt at contact for an extended period of time.
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Sheldon/Amy ღ Mulder/Scully ღ Peter/Olivia ღ Mac/Harm ღ Toby/Happy ღ Walter/Paige ღ Wylie/Vega
</scorpion> ♣ Fringe ♣ The Mentalist
"You said you were sad that you'd never see the stars again" - Sylvester Dodd
~Heidi
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