adopted child support

Hi!
I have been married for 5 years, and now I\'m going through a divorce. I was
with her for 10 years, she has a 11 year old son whom I would like to adopt.
The mother would also like for me to do this, and she agrees to sign
something saying she will never go after child support. Is there a way to
make this happen? The father signed his rights away 10 years ago.
Thank you!
Matt

[tbyte]

NO, NO, NO!
Whether the mother "promises" not to go after you for child support or not, the State may go after you for child support under several different scenarios, such as if the child receives any sort of financial aid from the government.
Such a "promise" would not be legally binding anyway unless approved by a court, which would probably not sign off on such an arrangement.
Plus, I doubt that the State would allow you to adopt the boy if you were not married anyway.
Plus, I find is suspicious that your wife claims the boys biological father "signed away his rights" 10 years ago. While the State may rescind a father's rights, or may not care if a father chooses not to excercise those rights, they will NOT let a father sign away his financial responsibilities unless there is another man willing to adopt the child and assume financial responsibility.
Frankly, there is NO reason for you to adopt this child. If both you and the mother wish for you to continue having a relationship with the boy there is nothing to stop this from occurring. Neither is there anything to stop you from helping financially support the child in any way you want.
What adopting the child will NOT do is give you any practical rights regarding the child. A few minutes browsing this forum should demonstrate how little respect the courts give to biological fathers in disputes over custody or visitation. Imagine how much less respect a non-biological father would get.
Nada.
Adopting this child does nothing except put you on the hook financially.