How Can My Spouse Adopt My Child in Pennsylvania?

There are many wonderful ways to build a family. Increasingly, stepparents are developing close, meaningful relationships with their spouses’ children, becoming their parents in nearly every sense of the word.

For these families, the last step toward permanence is to formalize their relationship with a stepparent adoption.

The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly can provide all of the services you need to safely and legally complete your stepparent adoption in Pennsylvania, including:

– explaining the stepparent adoption process, your rights, and the rights of the child’s other biological parent.

– seeking the consent of the parent whose rights are to be terminated.

– filing a petition to involuntarily terminate parental rights in the case of a contested adoption.

– preparing legal documents to be filed with the court.

– arranging and accompanying you and your child to your finalization hearing.

– obtaining a new birth certificate for your child after finalization.

– providing the general case management and oversight you need through each step of the process.

– and more.

By becoming a legal parent for your spouse’s child, you can provide your family with many important benefits and ensure your relationship with your stepchild is legally recognized and protected. Here, learn how to adopt a stepchild with The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly.

Benefits of Stepparent Adoption

In many stepfamilies, both parents share in day-to-day parenting responsibilities, rewards and decision-making. This may lead these families to wonder, Should I adopt my wife’s child? My new spouse wants to adopt my child — but is it really necessary?

Even if you share a meaningful parent-child relationship with your stepchild, this relationship will not be legally recognized without a formal adoption. If you are not biologically related to your child, you have very few, if any, legal rights regarding him or her.

Adopting a stepchild is the best way to gain the legal security you need as you continue to help parent your spouse’s children. Here are just a few important reasons why every blended family should consider stepparent or second parent adoption:

– It ensures the child can receive inheritance and insurance benefits

– It protects the stepparent from custody challenges if something were to happen to his or her spouse

– It simplifies everyday parenting tasks, like obtaining medical records and enrolling the child in school

– And more

Most importantly, stepparent adoption can be a powerful emotional symbol of your love and commitment to your stepchild. By formalizing your relationship, you can provide a sense of stability and finality to everyone in your family, especially your child.

How to Adopt a Stepchild in Pennsylvania

Many other forms of adoption can involve a number of professionals, lengthy processes and complex legal procedures and requirements. But what is required to adopt a spouse’s child?

No adoption home study or post-placement visits are required when adopting a stepchild in Pennsylvania. And because you already have a relationship with your stepchild, you will not need to search for an adoption opportunity. This makes stepparent adoption much simpler than many other forms of adoption. In fact, most families can finalize within 60–90 days of beginning the process.

This also helps keep the stepparent adoption cost low, making it an efficient, inexpensive way to provide your entire family — and most importantly, your child — with a sense of legal security and peace of mind.

If you are ready to begin the adoption process, or if you would like more information about how to adopt your stepchild in Pennsylvania, please contact The Law Offices of Denise M. Bierly to schedule a consultation.

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