Every Child Deserves A Loving Home
Adoption secures the rights and responsibilities of a parental relationship for individuals who are not biological parents. Four common types of adoption include stepparent, second parent, kinship or custodial adoption.
Stepparent and second parent adoptions allow an individual to formalize their relationship with their partner's children. Adoption provides children with the emotional stability of a two parent family and allows you to include children on health insurance, life insurance or other benefit plans.
As a general matter, stepparent or second parent adoption requires a showing that one of the biological parents is consenting to the adoption and the other has either abandoned the child, found unfit, deceased or also consents. If adoption is granted, the adoptive parent will have the same rights and responsibilities as a natural parent, including the obligation to pay child support in the event that their relationship or marriage to the biological parent breaks up.
Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren may utilize either kinship adoption or second parent adoption laws, depending on their specific circumstances. Kinship adoption is also available to aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and first cousins who have been taking physical care of a child related to them for more than one year.
Second parent adoption is ideal for gay or lesbian couples, where only one partner is biologically related to the child that they are raising together.
Custodial adoption is available to non-relatives who have had primary physical care of a child for more than one year and can demonstrate that for more than one year both of the child’s biological parents have either abandoned the child or failed to provide financial support when they were reasonably able to do so.
If you are considering stepparent, second parent, kinship or custodial adoption, you can make an appointment with an attorney at the law firm of Laurel Anne Markus PC. I would be happy to help you create a more secure and permanent relationship with the child in your care.
FIXED FEE UNCONTESTED ADOPTIONS. 719-649-1809