Families look to adopt children for many reasons. An adoption will legally recognize the new parents the same as if he or she is their biological child while ending any legal relationship with his or her birth parents. The new parent will have full legal rights, as well as full legal responsibilities, for the adopted child. This allows the child to have a new Birth Certificate issued, change their last name, and give them inheritance rights with the new parents.

The most common type of adoption is Stepparent Adoption. This is where one parent remarries and their new spouse wants to adopt their children as their own. Same-sex couples can also use this process to complete their family. When the birth parent consents, the adoption can often be completed without a home study or a contested hearing. If the child is over 10 years old, they will also need to consent to the adoption and be represented by independent counsel. Parental consent is sometimes difficult to obtain in these cases, due to the permanency of relinquishing parental rights. If this happens, a Court will need to determine that adoption is in the child’s best interest. It is important to consult with a family law attorney to explain the process and requirements to determine the best method to move forward with the adoption.