When parents remarry and bring children into a new relationship, the results can be complicated. In some cases, children and stepparents don’t get along, while in others, their bond is extraordinarily close. Regardless of that relationship, though, there can be some key benefits to pursuing stepparent adoption – but the process needs to be approached with care.
Who’s Joining The Family?
Before deciding whether to pursue stepparent adoption, it’s important for families to grapple with the emotional aspects of the process. “Adoption” makes it sound like the child is the one joining the family because that is the cultural narrative we have connected to that language. In reality, though, the stepparent is the newcomer to the family, and it’s important to acknowledge that. The child should never feel like an outsider in their own family. They need to feel like their needs and feelings are being prioritized at all times.
Legal Processes
Another major factor that families need to prioritize when pursuing stepparent adoption is finding a legal team that is a good fit for their needs. You’ll get a sense of this during your first meeting with a family lawyer, but there are certain steps you can take to ensure everyone is on the same page. Ideally, you don’t want to work with a lawyer who sees stepparent adoption as simply a procedural undertaking. This is too important of a step in the life of your family to act like it’s just a pile of paperwork.
Beyond Biology
One major reason why a stepparent might adopt their stepchild is because they’ve developed a special bond with them in light of abandonment or absence on the part of the biological parent. This can also simplify the legal process involved in stepparent adoption. According to adoption lawyer Rowdy Williams, “When a biological parent is absent from their child’s life or deemed unfit to care for their child, it leaves a gap in that child’s life – and stepparents can really transform their lives.”
When a biological parent fails to provide financial support for a year or has abandoned their child for six months, they are no longer in a position to authorize stepparent adoption. Rather, they only need the consent of the present biological parent. This simplifies the process significantly.
Why Pursue Stepparent Adoption
Beyond the emotional benefits of the process, what are the benefits of choosing stepparent adoption? Stepparent adoption is actually the most common form of adoption because it provides critical legal protections and rights. By adopting their stepchild, a stepparent acquires the legal rights to make medical decisions, determine where the child lives, and make choices about their education. In the eyes of the law, they cease to be a stepparent and acquire all of the rights of a biological parent – and that comes with all of the same responsibilities for the child’s care and welfare.
At the end of the day, a stepparent adoption should be a celebratory event, and your family should treat it that way. That means doing the emotional and legal work to prepare for what’s ahead. Then, on the big day, take it all in. This is the beginning of a new phase for your family.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.