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