Experienced Legal Help for Stepparent Adoptions
Stepparent adoption is a wonderful way to unite a blended family. It is also one of the most common forms of adoption in the United States.
Experienced Adoption Attorneys
The attorneys at the Adoption Law Offices of Adams & Romer in San Francisco can assist if you would like to legally adopt your spouse's child or children after marriage.
We have been helping families through the stepparent adoption process for decades. To discuss your plans and get answers to your questions about stepparent adoption, please call toll free 1-800-U-ADOPT-US (1-800-823-6788) or contact us by e-mail.
What's Involved in Stepparent Adoption?
Stepparent adoption involves terminating the other parent's legal parental rights, coordinating with the investigative social worker and completing all necessary legal work, including court appearances.
Before your initial consultation, we will send you an adoption questionnaire for you to complete. Bring this to our first meeting along with the following documents:
- The child's birth certificate
- A copy of your marriage decree
- A death certificate if either biological parent has died
- Copies of any previous marriage and divorce decrees for either party
After we prepare and file an adoption request with the county in which you reside, we will arrange for a stepparent adoption investigation to be completed. You and the child you wish to adopt will meet with a social worker. The social worker will complete a home study, which will require fingerprinting, financial information, medical updates of the child, and often references. Once the other parent's parental rights are terminated, the investigator will file a report to the court recommending that the stepparent adoption go forward. We will prepare the court papers for the finalization of the adoption in front of the judge.
Adopting Your Domestic Partner's Child
We can also assist you to legally adopt your domestic partner's child or children. As in stepparent adoption, we terminate the legal parent's right if necessary, coordinate the social worker and home study and complete all necessary legal work including court appearances. We will discuss the pros and cons of different available legal steps with you. We also assist domestic partners who have had a child, or where one domestic partner who would like to legally adopt their partner's child or children in a process similar to stepparent adoption.
Termination of Parental Rights
If the other biological parent agrees to the adoption, he or she can sign a consent form terminating parental rights in front of the clerk of any California Superior Court or in front of a notary. If the other parent has not supported or communicated with the child for a period of more than one year, it is possible to terminate that spouse's rights through the court.
Domestic Partner Adoptions
In California, registered domestic partners can use the same process as stepparent adoptions. Proposition 8 (Prop 8) has not changed this process.
Our adoption lawyers can help you through the process as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. To learn more about stepparent adoption or other adoption services, please call us toll free at 1-800-U-ADOPT-US (1-800-823-6788) or e-mail adamsromer@aol.com.
