Step Parent Adoption Lawyer Ogden, UT
What happens if you get married to someone who already has children and you want to be the legal parent as well? Step-parent adoption is an opportunity to create an even stronger bond with a child. You need a lawyer to help facilitate the process so that it is done correctly and so you know what this means. Contact a step parent adoption lawyer in Ogden, Utah from Felt Family Law & Mediation today to learn more and to begin the process for yourself and your family.
Do Both Birth Parents Need to Agree to the Adoption?
Typically, both biological parents do need to agree to the stepparent deciding to legally adopt their child. Some exceptions include if one of the biological parents passed away and cannot help with the decision, if the adoption is determined to be in the best interest of the child, or if the father cannot be determined and the mother wants to have a specific person be the legal father figure. An experienced step-parent adoption lawyer will go over the facts in great detail with you to determine if this adoption process is right for you and your family.
What Steps Must You Take to Complete the Process?
The first thing you need to do is hire a step-parent adoption lawyer in Ogden, UT from Felt Family Law & Mediation. We will go over the intricate details of your case and help facilitate the adoption. This will include filing a lot of paperwork and possibly going to court to present the information to a judge. If the other biological parent did not approve of the step-parent adoption, there is still a chance of making it happen. A judge will need to rule that it is in the best interest of the child. This will be more complicated and time-consuming, but you should not give up if you do not get permission at first, especially if you believe it will truly be better for the child. One of our experienced lawyers will look for loopholes in your case and present an argument that may be favorable to a judge.
If you are thinking of adopting a child, our Ogden, UT step-parent adoption lawyer is happy to discuss the process with you.
The team at Felt Family Law & Mediation will assist you in the process so you can focus on love and relationships. We are well equipped to assist with step parent adoption and will do so with care, consideration, and attention to your specific needs. We encourage you to contact our firm to schedule a free initial consultation.
Step Parent Adoption Qualifications
As a stepparent, in order to qualify to adopt your stepchild, one must complete a series of essential steps.
- You must be married to the child’s parents.
- Consent – both your spouse and the stepchild must consent to the adoption.
- The other parent must consent to terminate their parental rights, with the exception of when that parent has already terminated their rights.
- Background checks must also be passed.
- Legal commitments must be made to care for the child as if it was your own.
Parental Consent
The most common scenario where stepparent adoptions become a viable option for a family is when one of the biological parents is not involved in the child’s life, and the other biological parent marries someone who steps into a parental role. The process of stepparent adoption enables the stepparent to have all of the responsibilities and rights of a biological parent, including possibly being liable for child support in the event of divorce. This being said, a step-parent adoption can prove to be beneficial for both the adopting step-parent and the stepchild who is being considered for adoption.
Adopting without Parental Consent
There are ways to initiate a stepparent adoption when the other biological parent does not consent to terminate their parental rights. Scenarios where adoption without parental consent is potentially viable:
- Abandonment – When a parent is found to have abandoned their child, parental rights may be terminated without question, eliminating the need for parental consent.
- Challenging Paternity – If the presumed birth parent is not really the biological parent of the child, parental rights may be terminated.
Same-Sex Couples – In same-sex relationships, stepparent or second-parent adoption is often used to ensure parental rights. A non-biological parent may use this process to have their parental rights recognized in the case of a biological parent.
Ogden, UT Step Parent Adoption Lawyer
In Utah, the rights of parents are stipulated in the Constitution, and it is sometimes difficult to meet the burden of terminating the rights of the other parent. If you want to seek adoption by stepparents, it is important to talk to a lawyer who is experienced in adoption and parental rights. Felt Family Law & Mediation is able to provide you with advice on parental rights and help guide you through the stepparent adoption process. Our team will work with you to thoroughly understand your unique situation and create a plan of action and work to help achieve the most desirable outcome.
Contact a Lawyer from Felt Family Law & Mediation Today
We are incredibly experienced in family law and will know the next steps to take in a step-parent adoption case. Whether you attempted the adoption and got turned down or are in the beginning stages of the process and have questions, we are here to help. We will gladly set up a consultation with you and the biological parent with whom you are hoping to be a parent of their child. We can go over options and will tell you what becoming a legal parent of their child will entail for you. This is incredibly important when making such a big decision. You should not leave things up to chance. Trust an experienced lawyer from Felt Family Law & Mediation to handle your case and you can feel a sense of calmness that everything will work out for the best.
