Washington Stepparent Adoption Lawyer
Guiding You Through Stepparent Adoption Processes
Stepparent adoption is perhaps one of the most common forms of adoption in the United States. In stepparent adoption proceedings, one parent agrees to terminate his or her parental rights so that the other parent's new spouse or partner can adopt the child.
This can be a relatively straightforward process if the adoption is uncontested. The prospective adoptive parent must also be:
- Approved by a social worker who conducts an investigation called a post-placement study, and
- The Court must give final approval.
Without a parent's consent to terminate his/her parental rights or a forced termination for other reasons, the process can be substantially more difficult, if not impossible.
Call McKinley Irvin today at (206) 625-9600 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our stepparent adoption attorney in Washington!
Key Steps in the Stepparent Adoption Process
- Consent - The first step in any adoption case is attaining the biological parents' consent. This can be done via signing an affidavit.
- Petition for Adoption - To commence the adoption process with the Court, the parties must submit the petition for adoption.
- Post-Placement Evaluation - The Court will appoint a social worker to interview both parents and ask questions about their background, employment, etc.
- Confirmation of Consent - If you are adopting in King County, Washington, you must submit a confirmation of consent from the biological parents.
- Finalization Hearing - At this hearing, both parties appear in Court together with the adoptive child to make their case that this adoption is in the child's best interests. The judge or court commissioner reviews the documents and finalizes the adoption.
- Documentation - The parents should receive certified copies of the Decree of Adoption after signing it. Within 30 days, the decree will be sent to the Vital Statistics Division to create a new birth certificate.
Contact Our Washington Stepparent Adoption Attorney Today
Having served thousands of clients over 25 years, McKinley Irvin family lawyers have successfully represented clients in all adoption cases. From straightforward, uncontested stepparent adoptions to more complex contested cases, our firm has the experience to arrive at the most favorable outcome. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation to find the lawyer best suited for your stepparent adoption case.
Contact McKinley Irvin today to meet with our stepparent adoption lawyer in Washington!
