Q: Can aunt adopt child if one parent keeps rights in AL?
I am the mother of a child for whom my child's aunt currently has court-ordered custody. The child's father, who is her brother, is willing to sign over his parental rights to her. I am supportive of this arrangement and do not want to give up my parental rights. Is it possible for my child's aunt to adopt my child under these circumstances without me relinquishing my rights?
A: The short answer is no. A child cannot be adopted without a termination of BOTH parent's rights. However, a termination depending on the circumstances may not be that hard to obtain with abandonment being the easiest route under the Adoption statutes. It would be wise for you to consult an attorney immediately about how to protect the keep your parental rights. The Aunt clearly appears to have a plan that she wishes to act upon or the issue would not have come up.
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