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Maine Adoption Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Adoption for Maine on
Q: I am located in Maine my ex is willing to sign rights over to my son to my fiancé Do we have to be married first?

I know some states require a set amount of time the couple has to be married before allowing the adoption but we want our family adopted and whole before we do a wedding

Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis
answered on Aug 12, 2020

Congratulations on your impending life events!

Maine has no requirement for adoptive parents to be married.

The situation you describe is a classic set-up for what we call a "consented-to adoption." Your fiance will need to file an adoption petition at the county probate...
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1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Maine on
Q: I have a question about adoption, specifically about how it is portrayed in TV shows.

I was researching a few characters in tv shows I watched and their relationships with other characters, and it described as their "adopted niece". Another character from another show was described as someones "adopted granddaughter" and I was confused. Is that something that... View More

Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis
answered on Jun 9, 2020

Hi there.

Maine law only makes provisions for adopting a son or a daughter. So those other terms, while lovely and embracing, have no legal meaning.

Cheers!

- Joe

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