| Step-parent adoptions are the most common form | | | | yourself, make sure you know exactly where to turn |
| of child adoptions. These adoptions are usually simpler | | | | the paperwork in. You wouldn't want to be waiting |
| and quicker than other types of adoptions because | | | | for a long time only to discover that you turned your |
| many states forego the home-study and the waiting | | | | paperwork in to the wrong court worker and it |
| or adjustment period. Some states require the | | | | subsequently got lost. You would have lost all that |
| custodial parent be married to the step-parent for at | | | | time, work and money already invested and would |
| least one year before the step-parent can file to | | | | have to redo the paperwork. |
| adopt the spouse's children. The custodial parent | | | | The next step is often the longest and most |
| cannot file the request, or petition, for the adoption, | | | | stressful step, whether you hire a lawyer or not. Itis |
| only the step-parent can do that. | | | | waiting for your hearing date. You are usually required |
| The first move in a step-parent adoption is | | | | to attend this hearing. This date is decided upon the |
| familiarizing yourself with your state's adoption law. | | | | judge's schedule, your lawyer's schedule (if you have |
| This may be done as easily as hiring a lawyer that | | | | one) and the court calendar. Your schedule is rarely |
| specializes in adoptions or family law or you may | | | | taken into account because you are the one |
| choose to do your own research and look up the | | | | requesting this change and are expected to take off |
| adoption law yourself. Some states require the | | | | work whenever notified of a court date. |
| adopting parent to be represented by a lawyer, so | | | | The next step, obviously, is to attend the court |
| be sure to find that information out as well. Another | | | | hearing. Court hearings are used to question the |
| point to take into consideration when deciding on a | | | | parties involved, usually to let the judge decide |
| lawyer is, lawyers are able to search for cases similar | | | | whether this adoption has been fully considered and |
| to yours and see what the judges decided in those | | | | if the child is old enough, to let him or her tell the |
| cases and determine if that case would be of | | | | judge how he or she feels about the adoption. Your |
| assistance in getting your adoption approved. | | | | attorney, if you have one, will tell you how the |
| The second step in a step-parent adoption is | | | | adoption hearings go in your county and will prepare |
| contacting the court system. You need to find out | | | | you for the judge's questions. At the end of this |
| which court takes care of adoptions. This may be | | | | hearing, the judge will set a finalization date if he or |
| juvenile court, family court, or surrogacy court, | | | | she believes the adoption is in the best interest of |
| depending on your state. The court clerk will be able | | | | the child. |
| to provide this information to you, free of cost. Once | | | | The seventh step is to finalize your adoption. Your |
| you find the proper court for adoptions, you need to | | | | lawyer will tell you if you are required to attend this |
| request adoption information paperwork. Some | | | | hearing. Most families choose to attend this hearing |
| courts have this pre-packaged and ready to mail to | | | | because it is somewhat of a celebration for them |
| you immediately and some do not. If your court | | | | since it completes their family. At the end of the |
| does not have this information pre-packaged, make | | | | finalization hearing, you will receive copies of the |
| sure you find out whether you need to be | | | | adoption documents. You may want to request extra |
| represented by a lawyer during the proceedings and | | | | copies to show the school system and the |
| where you can get copies of all the legal documents | | | | government for a new Social Security card, birth |
| you will need. | | | | certificate, etc. |
| The third step in a step-parent adoption is obtaining | | | | The eighth and final step is to get the proper |
| and completing the proper legal forms. If you have | | | | identification documents with the child's new name. |
| hired a lawyer for this procedure, he or she will be | | | | These are usually the birth certificate and Social |
| able to obtain and assist you in completing the legal | | | | Security card. The court clerk will send in paperwork |
| forms. If you decide to do this on your own, the | | | | for your child's birth certificate to be changed at the |
| court that you contacted in the second step will tell | | | | Department of Vital Statistics. After a predetermined |
| you where to obtain the legal forms. Then you fill | | | | waiting period, usually 30 to 60 days, you may apply |
| them out with all the relevant information. I | | | | for the amended birth certificate. You will have to |
| recommend hiring a lawyer for this whole procedure | | | | pay a fee for this document. Once you receive the |
| because legal forms can be very confusing to | | | | birth certificate, you can apply for the new Social |
| someone who is unfamiliar with the law. | | | | Security card. Both of these documents usually take |
| The fourth step is submitting the paperwork to the | | | | four to six weeks to arrive after you have |
| proper authorities. If you hire a lawyer, this step will | | | | completed the application. |
| be completed by him or her. If you choose to do it | | | | |