Rights for a Stepparent Adoption in Virginia

Your family has come a long way and now you are ready to take the next step: stepparent adoption. A stepparent adoption can be one of the most positive and enjoyable cases a Virginia family law attorney can undertake. The road to adopting a stepchild begins when you put in your adoption paperwork. Your Virginia family law attorney will help you with all the details.

Stepparent adoption helps build families by giving stepparents the same rights and responsibilities as biological parents. Children who are legally adopted can benefit socially and financially being in a 2-parent family.

Before you start the process, you need to consider whether there will be any issues regarding parental consent. Both biological parents, if alive and still possessing parental rights, need to agree to the adoption. This means that if your spouse wants to adopt your child, your child's biological father will have to agree.

There may be cases where the absent biological parent has abandoned the child, or where the parent may be hard to track down. Home studies may be required by the judge too. Your Virginia family law attorney will help you navigate through any complications that might arise in your adoption case.

Contacting a Virginia Family Law Attorney

At Hofheimer/Ferrebee, we understand that the health and happiness of your children is your #1 concern. We will work with you to address any fears and anxieties you may have about your children's future. Our women's-only divorce attorneys will guide you every step of the way to ensure that you achieve the best possible child custody and child support arrangements for you and your children.

To learn more about your Virginia divorce, request a FREE copy of our guide, What Every Virginia Woman Should Know About Divorce, or reserve your seat at our monthly divorce seminar - 757-425-5200.