Can My Spouse Adopt My Child if the Biological Parent is not on the Birth Certificate in Oklahoma?
Yes. Whether the father’s name was not placed on the birth certificate or you do not know who the father is, you can still pursue adoption in Oklahoma. Step-parent adoptions are exciting for new, blended families since they offer ample opportunities to create tighter and more formal bonds between a child and stepparent. In the state of Oklahoma, stepparent adoptions revolve around certain laws and information that may not be apparent to many stepparents. If you are considering adopting your spouse’s child, you could use the assistance of an OKC stepparent adoption attorney with Lisa R. Howard P.L.L.C. Stepparent adoptions make a stepparent the full, permanent, legal parent of a child in the eyes of the law. Once the adoption process has been completed, the stepparent will receive the same responsibilities and rights as if the stepparent was the child’s biological parent.
Since there are different laws in Oklahoma regarding adoption, many families oftentimes turn to an experienced attorney when undergoing a stepparent adoption. There is some important information about stepparent adoptions you should be aware of if you reside in the state of Oklahoma.
Duration & Requirements for Stepparent Adoptions
Step parent adoption in Oklahoma is different from other states. The stepparent must be married to the biological parent of the child. If one of the parents is the child’s biological mother or father, that parent must be there with their wife or husband while filing for adoption.
If all requirements are easily met, a step parent adoption Oklahoma, can be completed in as little as a few months. However, it can take a lot longer if it takes an extended duration to fulfill all requirements in order to do the adoption. Our office can walk you through the detailed process.
Terminating Existing Parental Rights
When it comes to Oklahoma step parent adoption, the other biological parent must have their parental rights ended. Sometimes the other biological parent will consent to the adoption or no show to the Court appearance.
Many times, contacting the other parent can be an obstacle if it is not known where the other parent resides. Finding a long lost biological parent for purposes of furthering your adoption is something that our office can help with. We have many ways to locate biological parents for you.
If the other parent does not want to give up their parental rights, the next step is to ask the Court to make a ruling that their consent to the adoption is not needed. Sometimes adoption can get complicated. This is why having an Oklahoma adoption attorney that can walk you through your options is important.
Consent Requirement Exceptions
In regards to Oklahoma City stepparent adoption, if they are unable to obtain the other biological parent’s consent, you will still be able to pursue an adoption by seeking to have the other parent’s rights terminated in court. Parental rights may be terminated if the other parent has abandoned the child, did not maintain a positive relationship with their child in 12 of the last 14 months, or if they did not fulfill their other legal obligations such as paying child support, etc.
How an Attorney Can Help
An experienced, knowledgeable attorney can help you in the Oklahoma stepparent adoption process. They can simplify the process and lay out your options. Your attorney will also be able to clarify the relevant adoption laws to your case and in your state. If you are considering adopting your stepchild, your attorney can conduct an advertising campaign, work with consultants, and much more.
Additionally, if certain legal issues may arise, your attorney can give you legal advice, make sure all birth parents’ rights are legally and fully terminated, and much more.
Your attorney will guide you through the entire process to ensure that every step is carried out in full compliance according to the law. Your attorney will also help defend your interest in cases where a biological parent disputes the adoption.
Furthermore, your attorney can advise you on whether consent may be waived in your case, which may be dependent on circumstances. When consent is necessary, your attorney can help you obtain proper consent.
Oklahoma Adoption Attorney Lisa R. Howard, P.L.L.C. comes with you to every Court appearance, and appears with you as your legal representative. Once the adoption has been finalized, your attorney will be able to file an application for a new birth certificate for your child which will reflect the new name of your child, if it has changed. The new birth certificate will also list the stepparent’s name as a parent of the child.