Stepparent Adoption

If you are a stepparent and would like to adopt a stepchild you may be able to do so with or without the permission of the biological parent whose rights will be severed. Of course if the biological parent is willing to relinquish his/her rights, the adoption process is much easier procedurally. However, even if the biological parent is willing to relinquish his/her rights, there are still eligibility requirements that you must meet before you are able to adopt the child. Further, depending on the age of the child, the child might have to agree to the adoption.  Adopting a child comes with many consequences that you or may or may not have intended. Our legal counsel can assist you and help you make the decision that is right for your family.

If you are the parent relinquishing your legal rights to a child, you might be surprised to find that your duty to support the child has not been relinquished with your rights. If prior to the adoption of the child you owed back child support or owed for other expenses of the child, these expenses are not always eliminated when the child is adopted.  Before agreeing to a stepparent adoption, it would be best for you to discuss your rights with an attorney so that you have a full understanding of the consequences that your actions may have.