Parental Consent and How it Relates to Stepparent Adoption
A step parent adoption in Oklahoma is a standard adoption process where one spouse is the child’s biological parent, and the non-biological parent (the step parent) adopts the child. The noncustodial biological parent of the child must give their parental consent before the adoption process can be approved. However, getting approval from the other parent is not always an option or readily available in some situations.
The adoption lawyers OKC at Lisa R Howard PLLC can help guide you through the step parent adoption process and help obtain consent, if needed, from the other parent.
What is Parental Consent?
Parental consent during a step parent adoption is when one of the biological parents permits the step parent married to the other biological parent to adopt the child. In some cases, getting parental consent is easy, while it can be more difficult in different situations. For example, when the parent gives up their rights, they are no longer obligated to continue with child support or any other obligations for the child. Additionally, once parental rights are waived, that parent is no longer offered visitation or access to the child. For the adoption process to continue, parental consent must be given; otherwise, legal action may be taken to allow the adoption to continue.
If you are working on a step parent adoption Oklahoma and need help with parental consent, speak with an adoption attorney OKC for additional information and guidance.
How it Relates to Stepparent Adoption
An Oklahoma step parent adoption is usually the cheapest when all parties agree and the noncustodial biological parent consents to the adoption. In the best-case scenario, the noncustodial parent will sign forms through your attorney or let the courts know they agree with the adoption and are willing to forfeit their parental rights. Additionally, having parental consent during a step parent adoption helps eliminate the need for home studies and a look into the adopting party’s financial status and ability to take care of the child.
Is Parental Consent Needed
In some situations, failure to obtain parental consent from the noncustodial parent can put a damper on the entire process. However, there are some circumstances where the courts may not require parental consent to continue with a step parent adoption.
In Oklahoma, it might be possible to have the noncustodial parent’s rights terminated, especially if they have not paid child support in accordance with their ability to pay or a court’s order. Additionally, parental rights may be removed if the other parent has failed to maintain a positive relationship with the child. In these situations, it might not be necessary to have consent. An adoption attorney Tulsa can help you seek termination of parental rights based on these or other factors. Completing adoptions without the consent of a biological parent is very common in Oklahoma.
Can an Adoption Attorney Oklahoma Help with Getting Consent?
If the noncustodial parent is not offering consent or is unreachable, hiring an experienced adoption attorney can help offer options for getting the necessary consent. Call an Oklahoma attorney to learn more about the possibilities and process involved in getting around the need for parental consent during a step parent adoption.
How an Attorney Can Help
An adoption attorney Oklahoma can help you get the paperwork needed for parental consent for your step parent adoption. Additionally, suppose you are struggling to get consent from the noncustodial parent. In that case, an attorney can help file all necessary paperwork, conduct research and investigations, and appeal your case to the judge to have their parental rights terminated.
Adoption attorneys OKC can help with more than just obtaining parental consent for a step parent adoption. Your attorney can help file all necessary paperwork with the courts and appear with you at all hearings. The attorney can also submit the proper forms to the state to amend the child’s birth certificate and change their last name.
Call the offices of Lisa R Howard PLLC today to schedule a consultation and discuss your step parent adoption plans. Our adoption lawyers OKC can help show you what is required, and we will be by your side from start to finish. In addition, let us help ease some stress associated with a step parent adoption by filing all of the paperwork and handling any potential issues.