Step-Parent Adoption

While most legal issues are depressing and stressful, a Step-Parent Adoption, under normal circumstances, could be the bright spot in the legal landscape.

A Step-Parent Adoption allows a step-parent, a spouse legally married to a minor child’s natural mother or father, to adopt their spouse’s child and assume the role of the natural parent of the child. The child is entitled to all of the rights and privileges of being the natural child of the adopting step-parent and the step-parent has all of the rights and obligations of being the child’s natural parent.

In most circumstances, a step-parent adoption occurs when a non-involved biological parent either abandons the child, has had his/her parental rights terminated by a court, the biological parent is deceased or where the biological parent is unknown or consents to a step-parent adopting the child. In these types of situations, the court process is fairly simple and only requires a short court hearing.

If the biological parent does not consent to the step-parent adoption, then a trial would be required to determine whether the parent has abandoned the child or whether his/her parental rights should be terminated.

You should contact Caldwell Law if you would like to pursue a step-parent adoption for your child.