Stepparent Adoption in FL
Call (800) 822-5170 Today for Help Adopting Your Stepchild
The Virga Law Firm, P.A. is proud to serve parents and stepparents all throughout the Sunshine State, including Orlando, Pensacola, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach.
Over the course of many years, our stepparent adoption attorneys in Florida have grown very familiar with the process of adopting a stepchild and have a dependable understanding the laws and regulations surrounding stepparent adoption. As such, we are aware of how challenging it can be to adopt a stepchild in Florida, especially when it comes to legal barriers and the relational dynamics between the child, their biological parents, and you.
Begin the process of stepparent adoption – call (800) 822-5170 or fill out our online contact form to speak to a Florida adoption lawyer.
How to Adopt a Stepchild in Florida
There is more to adopting a stepchild than simply being willing. While that is the first step, and an important one, there are a number of other hurdles you will have to jump in order to legally adopt the child you have come to love as your own.
Here’s what you can expect when seeking to adopt a stepchild in Florida:
- Petition for Adoption: This is the first step on the road to adopting your stepchild. As the stepparent, you are the petitioner and must provide the name, birth date, and birthplace of your stepchild, the child’s new name (if applicable), the length of time you have parented and lived in the same home with the child, and a statement of why you want to adopt them. After you file your petition, the child’s biological parent will be given the chance to object.
- Termination of Parental Rights: In order to adopt your spouse’s child as your own, the child’s other biological parent must relinquish their parental rights and consent to the adoption. There are some instances in which obtaining consent is not necessary, such as in cases where the child’s biological father has not legally established paternity. Parental rights can also be terminated if you can prove that the parent in question has been in prison for a significant amount of time or has behaved in a way that creates a hazard for children.
- Proving Abandonment: Sometimes, in order to terminate parental rights, you must prove that their other biological parent has abandoned them. Legally speaking, this means proving that the parent has not supported, contacted, or made effort to maintain a relationship with the child at all for at least 12 months.
If you do not have to fight for termination of parental rights and your adoption is uncontested, you could become your child’s legal parent in 2 months or less. However, it can significantly extend the process of adoption if you have to search for a missing parent, fight them for termination of parental rights, or otherwise engage in a legal battle with them.
Adopting a Stepchild? Consult a Stepparent Adoption Lawyer in Florida!
Our experienced legal staff at The Virga Law Firm, P.A. understand what an emotionally tumultuous process stepparent adoptions can be. We make it our mission to help you achieve the result you want with as little conflict as possible. The first way we do this is by offering you a consultation and helping you come up with solutions to any challenges you may be facing during adoption. Then, as your legal representatives, we can help you address any opposition or challenges head-on, all while ensuring your child is protected from any conflict surrounding the adoption.
Schedule your case evaluation with a Florida adoption attorney today.
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