Adult adoptions happen for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps a stepparent wants to adopt his minor child but decided to wait until she was no longer a minor to avoid contested litigation with the child’s biological parent. Perhaps a child was “raised” by someone other than his biological parents, such as another relative or foster parents. The scenarios vary. Adult adoptions can be very emotional and touching for all the parties, as the adoptee is an adult and typically has more of an appreciation of the emotional significance of becoming the legal child of another.
The process for an adult adoption is typically less complex than other types of adoptions, as there are no notice requirements for the biological parents and no need to terminate parental rights or submit a home study. The creation of the legal relationship, among other things, typically creates inheritance rights for the adoptee. The adoptee has the choice of changing his or her name to the last name of the petitioner. Debra Finch has represented many adults who have petitioned to adopt another adult, often an adult stepchild, foster child, or another relative.
If you have a question as to whether adult adoption is right for you or want to know more about the process, Debra Finch is available to consult with you.
