| What is Step Parent Adoption? |
What is Step Parent Adoption?
Step parent adoption is possible when you marry someone that has children that they bring into the marriage. There are certain conditions that apply though before you can do this. For example if the other biological parent is still a part of their lives and doesn't wish to terminate his or her rights then it isn't possible. When you do commit to step parent adoption though you are making a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life.
In some states, a couple has to be married for a certain period of time before a petition to the courts can be made for such an adoption. Many areas also require what is called a home study to be conducted as well. This involves a professional coming to the home to observe what is taking place there. They will also have plenty of questions for both of the adults. Children that are of a certain age may be questioned too in order to get a clear picture of the living arrangement that is in place for that household.
Not all requests for step parent adoption are immediately granted. The courts may need to attempt to track down the biological parent to get their consent. There is usually a time frame for this and if they don't respond then their rights can be terminated by the courts. In some states if the step parent has a criminal history they won't be allowed to adopt the children no matter how long the marriage has been in place.
It is important to find an attorney that specializes in adoption and that understands the laws for this form of it. That way they can guide you through the process step by step. It can take a long time from when the petition is submitted for the decision to get made by the courts. Your attorney can help you speed up the process by making sure that all of the forms are completed properly and submitted to the right agency.
There will be a hearing set in most instances after all of the forms have been submitted. The judge has the right to ask questions of anyone that comes to that hearing concerning step parent adoption. Many often ask older children if this is something they wish to see occur for their family or not. Another hearing may be set at the end of that one if they feel more information is needed to make a final decision.
In many instances the last names of children involved in step parent adoption are changed if there is a male adopting them. This isn't always the case though and the children can keep their previous last names if that is the wish of the family. In order to change them though legal documentation has to be submitted. Then new birth certificates and social security cards can be issued in the new name.
Should the marriage not work out, you can still have a part in the lives of these children. You may even be required by law to pay child support for them even though you aren't a biological parent. It is important to find out about all of these types of conditions for the area where you live. While no one wants to think that their marriage won't work you do need to understand what your legal responsibilities will be should it end.
There are many advantages to step parent adoption though that certainly outweigh those types of concerns. Should something happen to the natural parent that you are married to that results in death, you will have the legal right to keep those children. You don't have to worry that you will lose them as well. You can also add them to benefits you have including medical and dental coverage through an employer. Make sure you learn all there is about step parent adoption before you involve yourself in it.
PPPPP
Word Count 662
|
Adopting a Child with Special needs There are many children out there that have special needs. As a result it ...
read more
Adoption by Grandparents has become very Common Adoption doesn't always take place by people that aren't known to the natural ...
read more
Be Careful of Online Adoption Scams There are many ways to go about adopting a child, but you do need ...
read more
Can a Single Person Adopt a Child? Many single individuals out there are quite content with their lives. They haven't ...
read more
Common Barriers to Adopting a Child There are some common barriers to adopting a child that you should be aware ...
read more
Foster Care Adoption Programs are Affordable One of the big drawbacks when it comes to adoption is the cost involved. ...
read more
How do I Adopt an Older Child? The idea of adoption is one that many people find to be a ...
read more
Introducing an Adopted Child to Friends and Family When a baby is born it is natural for it to be ...
read more
Is Adoption Right for me? There are many different reasons why people can't have children of their own. As a ...
read more
Should a Child be told that they are Adopted? The decision to tell a child that they should be adopted ...
read more
Should Couples be Allowed to Adopt Children of another Race? When a couple adopts a child of another race it ...
read more
Take Advantage of the Tax Credits for Adopting a Child The Federal government realizes that desire people have to adopt ...
read more
Take Advantage of the Tax Credits for Adopting a Child The Federal government realizes that desire people have to adopt ...
read more
The Controversy over Same Sex Couples and Adoption Same sex couples have long been under scrutiny in our society. With ...
read more
The Facts about Adoption There are many different forms of adoption, but the definition of it involves being legally cared ...
read more
The Process of Adopting a Child from another Country Due to the length of time it can take to adopt ...
read more
The Pros and Cons of Adopting more than One Child at a Time Most of the time adoption involves taking ...
read more
Understanding the Law and Adopting a Child Many people are confused by the laws that pertain to adopting a child. ...
read more
What are the Basic Requirements if I want to Adopt? While the specifics of adoption will vary, there are some ...
read more
What are the Fees involved with Adopting a Child? There are many different types of fees involved with adopting a ...
read more
What can you Expect when you Adopt a Child through Open Adoption Methods? The idea of an option adoption seems ...
read more
What is Step Parent Adoption? Step parent adoption is possible when you marry someone that has children that they bring ...
read more
What is Private Adoption? A private adoption is one that takes place between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. ...
read more
What Should I Look for in an Adoption Agency? Part of the equation for a successful adoption is the agency ...
read more
Why is Adoption Counseling Important? Even though the idea of adopting a child can be exciting, it is also very ...
read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to What is Step Parent Adoption?. In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|