What is the Step-Parent Adoption Process? The most common form of adoption anywhere in the world is the adoption of children by stepparents whereby the adopting stepparent is completely willing to assume financial and legal responsibility for his/her spouse’s child or children and to release their noncustodial parent of parental responsibilities, which includes child support.
Step Parent Adoption Process
Want to adopt a child through this means? We have got you covered on that. Here’s everything you need to know about the step parent adoption process.
State Laws
Most states have streamlined the adoption process for adoptions by stepparents in the way that the judge hearing the adoption petition has the ability to dispense with the requirement in state adoption laws for an adoption home study. Some states, will not approve a stepparent adoption unless the custodial parent has been married to the stepparent for a period of one year or longer.
Required Consent
When a stepparent wishes to adopt a stepchild, the child’s parents (the stepparent’s spouse and the noncustodial or absent parent) are both required to consent to that adoption process. In consenting to an adoption, the noncustodial parent relinquishes or drops all parental rights and responsibilities, including child support. This is the right way according to the law. If the noncustodial parent does not agree to the proposed adoption, state laws may necessarily prevent the adoption from proceeding.
Some states specify in their state adoption laws, the special circumstances under which the noncustodial parent’s consent for the adoption of the child is not required. Other states have made special provisions in their adoption laws to allow stepparent adoptions to occur, even at the objections of the noncustodial parent in cases where the noncustodial parent has not been in communication with the child for a specified period of time.
The Stepparent Adoption Process
Want to go for a stepparent adoption process, follow the steps below;
Check out Your State Adoption Laws.
Nothing can replace the qualified legal advice of an adoption attorney admitted to the Bar in your own state. Adoption attorneys will know the important state adoption laws and will be able to research case law decisions also relevant in your state, which may have established legal precedents applicable in your situation.
Contact the Court in Your County That Handles Adoptions.
In some states, adoption cases are handled in a juvenile court, in other states the Family Court or Surrogacy Court handles adoptions. Speak to the court clerk or other employee who can provide relevant information about stepparent adoptions.
Obtain Required Legal Step Parent Adoption Forms.
Many states have designated certain publishing companies that stock and sell to the public legal forms for such court procedures. Your attorney will take care of this for you as part of his legal representation services or duties
Submit Required Legal Paperwork.
This will be handled by the attorney or lawyer representing you at the adoption hearing.
Wait for Notification of a Court Hearing Date.
A hearing date is then assigned in consultation with the judge’s (or magistrate’s) own schedule, your attorney’s schedule, and the court calendar. You may be notified of the hearing date either by mail or by your attorney. You usually are required to attend this hearing too.
Appear at the Hearing.
Court hearings are held to give the judge or magistrate an opportunity to question the parties that are involved. Your attorney will advise you about how adoption hearings are held in a particular court. At the end of the hearing, the judge or magistrate will set a date to finalize the adoption. Your attorney will tell you whether or not you will be required to attend this hearing.
Finalize the Adoption.
This is when the adoption certificates are issued You may wish to request additional copies of this legal document for your own files.
Apply for Amended Birth Certificates.
At this stage, After the adoption is finalized, you can apply for amended birth certificates to be issued
This is the easy process you will need to go through to partake in step parent adoption.
