HOW DOES THE ADULT ADOPTION PROCESS WORK?

The most significant difference between adoption for adults and other adoptions is that, in an adult adoption, the adoptee is the only one who has to give consent to the adoption.

If a mother chooses to place her child for adoption as an infant, it is her legal right to consent to the adoption. Even in older child adoptions, the biological parents still need to give consent or have a judge terminate their legal rights. However, in adult adoptions, it is up to the adoptee to give their consent.

Additionally, most (if not all) legal adoptions of adults are finalized without the assistance of an adoption agency. In the adoption of a younger child, an agency may be necessary to facilitate a match between a prospective birth mother and hopeful adoptive family. However, adult adoptions occur between adoptive parents and an adoptee who already know each other. Therefore, matching services are not needed and the people seeking an adult adoption can come straight to an adoption attorney.

WHY DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY FOR ADULT ADOPTION?

The adult adoption process is primarily legal paperwork, which is why it is vital to work with a good adoption attorney. Each state has unique laws and requirements, and these requirements need to be met exactly in order for the adult adoption to be valid.

For instance, some states require an established parent-child relationship between an adoptive parent and adoptee. Others have a mandated age difference between the two that must be met. All states have official filing requirements for paperwork and other important documents. Understanding the ins and outs of adult adoption laws can be difficult. Working with an attorney is the best way to secure a successful finalization for your adult adoption.

We have more than two decades of experience serving adoptees and adoptive families. Our knowledge of adoption law is unmatched, as is our commitment to families. For these reasons, we would love to serve you in your adult adoption process.

BENEFITS OF ADULT ADOPTION

There are potential personal, legal and financial advantages to the adoption of an adult. Every situation is unique, but we typically see people seek an adult adoption for one of several reasons:

• To legally establish a parent-child relationship that already exists personally (primarily stepparents and other relatives)
• A foster child who aged out of the system before being adopted, but had essentially become a permanent member of their foster family
• An adult who needs a legally recognized parent as a caretaker
• Does one of these descriptions closely resemble your own situation? If so, adult adoption could be right for you.