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Step-Parent Adoptions

Step-parent adoptions are the most commonchoose to do it yourself, make sure you know
form of child adoptions. These adoptions areexactly where to turn the paperwork in. You
usually simpler and quicker than other typeswouldn't want to be waiting for a long time
of adoptions because many states forego theonly to discover that you turned your
home-study and the waiting or adjustmentpaperwork in to the wrong court worker and it
period. Some states require the custodialsubsequently got lost. You would have lost
parent be married to the step-parent for atall that time, work and money already
least one year before the step-parent caninvested and would have to redo the
file to adopt the spouse's children. Thepaperwork.The next step is often the longest
custodial parent cannot file the request, orand most stressful step, whether you hire a
petition, for the adoption, only thelawyer or not. Itis waiting for your hearing
step-parent can do that.The first move in adate. You are usually required to attend
step-parent adoption is familiarizingthis hearing. This date is decided upon the
yourself with your state's adoption law.judge's schedule, your lawyer's schedule (if
This may be done as easily as hiring a lawyeryou have one) and the court calendar. Your
that specializes in adoptions or family lawschedule is rarely taken into account because
or you may choose to do your own research andyou are the one requesting this change and
look up the adoption law yourself. Someare expected to take off work whenever
states require the adopting parent to benotified of a court date.The next step,
represented by a lawyer, so be sure to findobviously, is to attend the court hearing.
that information out as well. Another pointCourt hearings are used to question the
to take into consideration when deciding on aparties involved, usually to let the judge
lawyer is, lawyers are able to search fordecide whether this adoption has been fully
cases similar to yours and see what theconsidered and if the child is old enough, to
judges decided in those cases and determinelet him or her tell the judge how he or she
if that case would be of assistance infeels about the adoption. Your attorney, if
getting your adoption approved.The secondyou have one, will tell you how the adoption
step in a step-parent adoption is contactinghearings go in your county and will prepare
the court system. You need to find out whichyou for the judge's questions. At the end of
court takes care of adoptions. This may bethis hearing, the judge will set a
juvenile court, family court, or surrogacyfinalization date if he or she believes the
court, depending on your state. The courtadoption is in the best interest of the
clerk will be able to provide thischild.The seventh step is to finalize your
information to you, free of cost. Once youadoption. Your lawyer will tell you if you
find the proper court for adoptions, you needare required to attend this hearing. Most
to request adoption information paperwork.families choose to attend this hearing
Some courts have this pre-packaged and readybecause it is somewhat of a celebration for
to mail to you immediately and some do not.them since it completes their family. At the
If your court does not have this informationend of the finalization hearing, you will
pre-packaged, make sure you find out whetherreceive copies of the adoption documents.
you need to be represented by a lawyer duringYou may want to request extra copies to show
the proceedings and where you can get copiesthe school system and the government for a
of all the legal documents you will need.Thenew Social Security card, birth certificate,
third step in a step-parent adoption isetc.The eighth and final step is to get the
obtaining and completing the proper legalproper identification documents with the
forms. If you have hired a lawyer for thischild's new name. These are usually the
procedure, he or she will be able to obtainbirth certificate and Social Security card.
and assist you in completing the legal forms.The court clerk will send in paperwork for
If you decide to do this on your own, theyour child's birth certificate to be changed
court that you contacted in the second stepat the Department of Vital Statistics. After
will tell you where to obtain the legala predetermined waiting period, usually 30 to
forms. Then you fill them out with all the60 days, you may apply for the amended birth
relevant information. I recommend hiring acertificate. You will have to pay a fee for
lawyer for this whole procedure because legalthis document. Once you receive the birth
forms can be very confusing to someone who iscertificate, you can apply for the new Social
unfamiliar with the law.The fourth step isSecurity card. Both of these documents
submitting the paperwork to the properusually take four to six weeks to arrive
authorities. If you hire a lawyer, this stepafter you have completed the application.
will be completed by him or her. If you



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