| Step-parent adoptions are the most common | | | | choose to do it yourself, make sure you know |
| form of child adoptions. These adoptions are | | | | exactly where to turn the paperwork in. You |
| usually simpler and quicker than other types | | | | wouldn't want to be waiting for a long time |
| of adoptions because many states forego the | | | | only to discover that you turned your |
| home-study and the waiting or adjustment | | | | paperwork in to the wrong court worker and it |
| period. Some states require the custodial | | | | subsequently got lost. You would have lost |
| parent be married to the step-parent for at | | | | all that time, work and money already |
| least one year before the step-parent can | | | | invested and would have to redo the |
| file to adopt the spouse's children. The | | | | paperwork.The next step is often the longest |
| custodial parent cannot file the request, or | | | | and most stressful step, whether you hire a |
| petition, for the adoption, only the | | | | lawyer or not. Itis waiting for your hearing |
| step-parent can do that.The first move in a | | | | date. You are usually required to attend |
| step-parent adoption is familiarizing | | | | this 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 lawyer | | | | you have one) and the court calendar. Your |
| that specializes in adoptions or family law | | | | schedule is rarely taken into account because |
| or you may choose to do your own research and | | | | you are the one requesting this change and |
| look up the adoption law yourself. Some | | | | are expected to take off work whenever |
| states require the adopting parent to be | | | | notified of a court date.The next step, |
| represented by a lawyer, so be sure to find | | | | obviously, is to attend the court hearing. |
| that information out as well. Another point | | | | Court hearings are used to question the |
| to take into consideration when deciding on a | | | | parties involved, usually to let the judge |
| lawyer is, lawyers are able to search for | | | | decide whether this adoption has been fully |
| cases similar to yours and see what the | | | | considered and if the child is old enough, to |
| judges decided in those cases and determine | | | | let him or her tell the judge how he or she |
| if that case would be of assistance in | | | | feels about the adoption. Your attorney, if |
| getting your adoption approved.The second | | | | you have one, will tell you how the adoption |
| step in a step-parent adoption is contacting | | | | hearings go in your county and will prepare |
| the court system. You need to find out which | | | | you for the judge's questions. At the end of |
| court takes care of adoptions. This may be | | | | this hearing, the judge will set a |
| juvenile court, family court, or surrogacy | | | | finalization date if he or she believes the |
| court, depending on your state. The court | | | | adoption is in the best interest of the |
| clerk will be able to provide this | | | | child.The seventh step is to finalize your |
| information to you, free of cost. Once you | | | | adoption. Your lawyer will tell you if you |
| find the proper court for adoptions, you need | | | | are required to attend this hearing. Most |
| to request adoption information paperwork. | | | | families choose to attend this hearing |
| Some courts have this pre-packaged and ready | | | | because 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 information | | | | end of the finalization hearing, you will |
| pre-packaged, make sure you find out whether | | | | receive copies of the adoption documents. |
| you need to be represented by a lawyer during | | | | You may want to request extra copies to show |
| the proceedings and where you can get copies | | | | the school system and the government for a |
| of all the legal documents you will need.The | | | | new Social Security card, birth certificate, |
| third step in a step-parent adoption is | | | | etc.The eighth and final step is to get the |
| obtaining and completing the proper legal | | | | proper identification documents with the |
| forms. If you have hired a lawyer for this | | | | child's new name. These are usually the |
| procedure, he or she will be able to obtain | | | | birth 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, the | | | | your child's birth certificate to be changed |
| court that you contacted in the second step | | | | at the Department of Vital Statistics. After |
| will tell you where to obtain the legal | | | | a predetermined waiting period, usually 30 to |
| forms. Then you fill them out with all the | | | | 60 days, you may apply for the amended birth |
| relevant information. I recommend hiring a | | | | certificate. You will have to pay a fee for |
| lawyer for this whole procedure because legal | | | | this document. Once you receive the birth |
| forms can be very confusing to someone who is | | | | certificate, you can apply for the new Social |
| unfamiliar with the law.The fourth step is | | | | Security card. Both of these documents |
| submitting the paperwork to the proper | | | | usually take four to six weeks to arrive |
| authorities. If you hire a lawyer, this step | | | | after you have completed the application. |
| will be completed by him or her. If you | | | | |