Are you a stepparent looking to go through the stepparent adoption process? Our Nassau County divorce lawyer team can help you and guide you through this process successfully! There is a lot that goes behind this process. The stepparent and legal guardian must meet certain requirements in order to be approved for adoption. Our services can help prepare you and determine if you are in fact eligible for the stepparent adoption process.
A stepparent adoption process is when the parent’s partner, who is not the biological parent, adopts the child as their own. When completed, the stepparent now has the same rights and responsibilities as the birth parent. In order to be approved for this process, the biological parents must consent to the adoption. This may be the most difficult obstacle you will face when going through this process. However, if the biological parent has neglected, abandoned, or is seen as an unfit parent, and there is proof for the court, consent is not required from that parent.
In the state of New York, if the child is more than 14 years old, they must also consent to their stepparent adoption. The court is required to order an investigation to decide if the adoption is in the best interest of the child. With the investigation, there will be a home study report conducted by a social worker to ensure the stepparent is fit to be the adoptive child’s step parent. If the stepparent has been residing with the child for over a year, and the investigation is no longer required. Our Nassau County divorce lawyer has the abilities and dedication to tackle these obstacles and support you through the process.
Since step parent adoption requirements do vary with every case, we do recommend consulting with a legal attorney to help the process run efficiently and smoothly. Call a Nassau County divorce lawyer at Simonetti & Associates for the legal advice you need!