FAQs about Stepparent Adoption
Many times, marriages don’t work out and parents of children go on to later marry other people. Even though one of the spouses in the subsequent marriage is a stepparent, sometimes, the child’s best interest is better served by being stepparent adoption. Some stepparents may feel that it is too complicated to adopt their step children. This is where an experienced Oklahoma adoption attorney like Lisa R. Howard can help. There are many questions from loving stepparents wanting to adopt these children, and the following includes those FAQs and answers about stepparent adoptions:
1. What happens if we get divorced?
If you get divorced, you will have equal legal standing as a parent within your divorce action.
2. Are we required to be married?
Yes, you must be legally married to adopt your Step Child.
3. Is the child required to live with us?
In addition to being legally married to the child’s parent, the child must live with the stepparent applying for adoption in the state of Oklahoma. So, when you begin the adoption process, you must go through this process through the Oklahoma City stepparent Adoption or any city in Oklahoma.
4. Who is required to assent to the adoption?
If a biological parent agrees to the adoption, they can complete the required paperwork notifying the court of his/her consent and proceed from there with other paperwork.
If the child, is 12 years of age, he/she must assent to the adoption as well. The child must agree to adoption even if the biological parent and stepparent agree. Again, it doesn’t matter if all parties for adoption are going through Oklahoma City adoptions or another city adoption, the law is the law.
5. When does child support end?
When the stepparent adoption is finalized, the stepparent will officially be the child’s parent and that is when child support from the biological parent ends. The reason for this is because the child is now legally the child of the stepparent.
6. My partner and I are a same-sex couple. Can I adopt his child?
Marriage equality of same-sex partners is the law in all 50 states. And thus, same-sex married couples can legally adopt through the same stepparent adoption laws as the opposite-sex married couples can. Same sex couples have equal rights in Oklahoma adoptions.
How a Lawyer Can Help With Other Questions
If you live in Oklahoma, and for more information about Oklahoma stepparent Adoption, Lisa R. Howard P.L.L.C. is the one to turn to. This OKC adoption attorney’s record speaks for itself. Lisa R. Howard is a family and adoption lawyer in the Oklahoma City Metro Area. She focuses on various areas of Oklahoma family law, including domestic adoption, international adoption, Indian adoption, guardianship, Oklahoma stepparent adoption, adult adoption, and more.
This OKC stepparent adoption attorney has been providing top-notch legal services for clients in this state for more than 15 years. And as a result, she has gained recognition, such as being nominated over the years several times as one of the recipients of the “Lawyers of Distinction.”
She is, hands down, a proven and dedicated adoption lawyer. And she is so dedicated that she is also accommodating to those who may feel like they can’t afford to get an adoption lawyer. Oklahoma Adoption attorney Lisa R. Howard offers payment plans in almost every case. You will be in great hands with this law firm, so contact her now!