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- ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD BY STEPPARENT
- ADOPTION OF AN ADULT CHILD BY STEPPARENT
- MORE ABOUT ADOPTION
- MORE ADOPTION RELATED SERVICES
ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD BY STEPPARENT
Fee: $689
The We The People Adoption of a Minor Child by Stepparent Package contains the standard forms needed for a stepparent to adopt the biological minor child (a child under the age of 18) of his or her spouse.
A separate We The People Adoption of a Minor Child by Stepparent Package is required for each child that is being adopted. In a stepparent adoption of a minor, the parental rights of the parent who is not the child's custodial parent are terminated. Adoption then creates a legal relationship between the adopting parent and the child just as if the adopting parent and the child were biologically related. The minor child's name can be changed as part of the adoption process.
We The People can only assist with stepparent adoptions if both of the child's biological parents are in agreement with the adoption and are available to sign the necessary consent forms. A child twelve years of age or older must approve of his or her own adoption. Due to special laws and complexities, We The People cannot assist if the minor is of Native American or Native Alaskan heritage.
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ADOPTION OF AN ADULT CHILD BY STEPPARENT
Fee: $689
The We The People Adoption of an Adult Child by Stepparent Package contains the standard forms needed for a stepparent to adopt the biological adult child (a child over the age of 18) of his or her current spouse.
A separate We The People Adoption of an Adult Child by Stepparent Package is required for each child that is being adopted. Please note that the consent of the spouse of the adopting party as well as the consent of the spouse of the adult adoptee – if married – is required. We The People cannot assist if the biological parent who was the spouse of the adopting party is deceased or no longer married to the adopting party.
In a stepparent adoption of an adult, the parental rights of the parent who is not the spouse of the stepparent are terminated. Adoption then creates a legal relationship between the adopting parent and the adult child just as if the adopting parent and the child were biologically related. The adult child's name can be changed as part of the adoption process.
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* The fees above do not include filing, recording, or courier service fees.
MORE ABOUT ADOPTION
Adoption is a legal proceeding that takes place in court, and upon court's ruling it creates a parent-child relationship between an adult and the adopted child. A step-parent adoption is the most common form of adoption whereby the step-parent upon a court's ruling assumes all financial and legal responsibilities for his or her spouse's child(ren), while the other parent (non-custodial parent) loses all parental rights and duties and is released from all financial and legal responsibilities for the adopted child. The relationship that is created between the adopting parent and the adopted child(ren) as a result of the adoption entails legal rights and legal duties, including child support obligations, inheritance rights, and custody rights.
The stepparent adoption process and and the court will address issues such as consent of the parent giving up his or her parental rights (non-custodial parent), the minimum duration of marriage between the step-parent and biological parent before an adoption petition can be filed, as well as a number of other requirements. States usually conduct an investigation of prospective adoptive parents to make sure they are fit to raise a child. Such investigations usually include an evaluation of the financial stability, marital stability, lifestyle, social factors, physical and mental health, and any criminal history, of the prospective adoptive parents.
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