When one thinks of adoption, their thoughts may initially go to the adoption of infants and toddlers from other countries. While international adoption is one type of adoption that some Pennsylvanians may pursue, there are other types of adoption that occur closer to home. One of these is the adoption of a stepchild by a stepparent.
Stepparents in Pennsylvania who are especially close to their stepchildren may love their stepchildren very much, and may wish to formally adopt their stepchildren. Stepparents may be encouraged to hear that Pennsylvania has some of the least restrictive adoption laws in the nation. Through stepparent adoption, a stepparent can adopt a child that was born to their spouse from a previous relationship.
In order to adopt their stepchild, a stepparent must have the consent of the child’s other biological parent, whose rights to the child would be terminated once the adoption process is complete. This may be difficult to obtain, but it is possible especially if the child’s other biological parent does not play an active role in the child’s life. However, obtaining such consent may be easier with the assistance of an attorney.
At the law firm of John C. Lackatos, P.C., we believe in approaching stepparent adoption in a way that is right for each family’s unique circumstances. Adoption cases are joyous, but they still must be handled with care. We aim to make the adoption process run in a smooth and efficient manner. To learn more about how an attorney can be of assistance in a stepparent adoption, please feel free to visit our adoption webpage.
