Adoption Attorney in Minneapolis, Minnesota
What is the process for stepparent adoption?
What is the process for stepparent adoption?
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one of the more common types of
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adoptions that we see is a stepparent
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adoption that situation comes up in
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which there is one person who has a
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child from a previous relationship and
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the new partner wishes to adopt that
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child in the process that that those
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people would go through is very similar
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to the process that a same-sex couple
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would go through in a second parent
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adoption in which you know one partner
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has a biological parent child
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relationship and the other partner is
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seeking to establish a legal
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parent-child relationship the starting
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point in a stepparent adoption is going
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to be interesting that the child is
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available for adoption
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that requires considering the status of
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the child’s other biological parent and
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we can ensure that the child is
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available for adoption in one of two
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ways the first is through securing a
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consent from the child other biological
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parent to the adoption and the other is
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through a termination of parental rights
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for that other biological parent and a
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termination of parental rights can be
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voluntary or involuntary and that’s a
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separate court process and then there
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are a few requirements in that apply to
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all adoptions and one is the Adam Walsh
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background check and that is a criminal
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and child protection background check
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that those who are wanting to adopt a
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child need to go through along with
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anyone age 13 or older who resides in
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the household and then the results from
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that Adam Walsh background check have to
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be on file with the court before the
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adoption finalization hearing occurs and
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adoption finalization hearings are I
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think one of the one of the few types of
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hearings that judges uniformly look
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forward to
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I think adoptions are inherently
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emotional and especially when you’re
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considering kind of proceeding events
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and Severine a Parent Child tie in order
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to form a new one you know there’s a lot
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of emotion underlying you know
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that but the actual finalization
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hearings tend to be really celebratory
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and there are other family members there
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and even when an adoption is formalized
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formalizing what is you know in practice
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already existing in terms of the
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relationship and sometimes you know the
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person adapting has provided care for
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the child for a long period of time I
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think it is profound to be able to be
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there for that moment of you know
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establishing the legal or legally
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recognized relationship and so it’s an
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honor to be able to assist families with
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that
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Minneapolis, MN family law attorney Ann L. Knudson talks about the process by which a stepparent can adopt their stepchild.
