My children’s father/mother is not part of their lives; can my spouse, their step-parent, to adopt them?
Yes, they can in certain circumstances. In order for a step-parent to adopt a child the parental rights of the original biological parent must be terminated. This means that the biological parent has either voluntarily given up their rights by signing an Affidavit of Relinquishment or that certain grounds such as nonpayment of child support or abandonment led to their rights being terminated. In addition, the courts require that a pre-adoptive home study and criminal background check be completed. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of a step-parent adoption, contact Edmonson Law today for a consultation.
