Get free answers to your Adoption legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Your current state is Ohio
I have had permanent custody of a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old for 10 years. The biological father has spent most of his time in prison and was not granted visitation rights. The mother had visitation rights but stopped seeing the children years ago. Can I pursue adoption without involving the... View More 
answered on Apr 14, 2025
No. Both biological parents will have to be personally served as parties to the adoption.
I am an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen a year ago, and I have an adopted daughter in Congo. There is a valid adoption judgment issued according to Congolese law. I would like to know if I can apply for family reunification to bring her to the United States. The reunification procedure has not... View More
answered on Apr 14, 2025
A US Citizen can sponsor his adopted child under 21 as long as the adoption, where performed, is recognized as a legal adoption.
I am a gay, married man in North Carolina seeking to adopt a child with my husband. I have a felony conviction for obtaining property under false pretenses, for which I pled guilty. My sentencing includes supervised probation until August 15, 2025, and I have fulfilled all restitution payments. My... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It’s great that you’re considering adoption and seeking to provide a loving home for a child. In North Carolina, your criminal record could impact the adoption process, but it doesn't necessarily disqualify you. Adoption agencies and the courts typically look at factors like the nature of... View More
I have a custody order from Nebraska that gives my ex 4 weeks in the summer, 4 days for holidays, and allows FaceTime every day. They haven't seen my child in 4 years or spoken to them in 2. Initially, I was granted a relocation order to move out of state, but I am returning soon. I have sole... View More
answered on Apr 11, 2025
If you are not following the terms of the Court order, then it is possible that the other party will file a contempt and that the Court will find you in contempt.
However, even if the party files for contempt, the party requesting the contempt finding has to show that you are in willful... View More
I am planning to adopt my stepchildren, aged 8 and 2, in Arkansas. There is no father listed on their birth certificates, and I am married to the birth mother. We have not started any legal proceedings yet, and there are no objections from any family members. What is the process for stepchild... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
The process for stepchild adoption in Arkansas is relatively straightforward when there is no father listed on the birth certificates, but it does require some legal steps. First, you will need to file a petition for adoption in the local court, typically in the county where you and your... View More
I am a 15-year-old who was adopted by my uncle and aunt. Due to a violent incident where my uncle threw me around, I had to call the police. They relocated me to my grandma's house. My uncle and aunt took my phone, and my grandma won't let me talk to the police or ask questions about my... View More
answered on Apr 7, 2025
You can ALWAYS call the police. ALWAYS.
If you are in danger you can ALWAYS reach out to Police, Fire and other State Agents as there are protections for you due to your age.
A teacher is another safe pathway, as they are trained how to deal with these issue and get the right... View More
I am seeking guidance on behalf of my client who gave a child up for adoption 10 years ago. Recently, the adoptive parents from Georgia returned the child to my client in Wyoming without any court action or formal agreement, and all communication about this was verbal. My client has welcomed the... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Your client’s situation requires legal clarification, as returning the child without formal court action is highly unusual. To legally regain custody, your client should file a petition for custody with the family court in their jurisdiction (Wyoming). The court will review the circumstances... View More
I was born in Guatemala and adopted by U.S. citizen parents in 2001, with the adoption and a second-parent adoption being recognized by the U.S. and completed in New York State. I currently hold a U.S. passport, a social security card, and a New York State-issued birth certificate. I am now 23... View More
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
Yes, you can obtain a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship. Based on the information provided, you very likely acquired U.S. citizenship automatically through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which went into effect on February 27, 2001. Your U.S. passport is already evidence of your citizenship... View More
I have sole legal and physical custody of my daughter, who is almost 2 years old. Her father has only met her once when she was four weeks old, and he has had no contact since June 2023. He is supposed to pay $300 a week for child support, but it's inconsistent. I am considering having my... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
To begin the guardianship process in Rhode Island for your daughter, you would need to file a petition in Family Court. Since you have sole legal and physical custody, you will have to demonstrate why guardianship with your boyfriend is in your daughter’s best interest. You can file for... View More
I have full legal and full physical custody of my children, and their birth father has supervised visitation rights two hours once a month, per a court order. However, he has not used these visits since 2022 and only saw the children once that year. He has expressed objections to someone else... View More
answered on Mar 31, 2025
The step parent adoption you are referencing requires the consent of both legal/biological parents, however the court can waive that requirement where it is alleged and proven that the non-consenting parent has abandoned the children, as that term is defined under Florida statues.
The... View More
I am trying to prove my native lineage and determine if I qualify for tribal enrollment. My father is Native American but was adopted outside the tribe. I have evidence of his native heritage but am missing his adoption records, which are sealed in California, or any information the tribe has about... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2025
Accessing sealed adoption records in California is challenging, especially when the adoptee isn't cooperating. California law generally restricts access to adoption records to the adoptee themselves, with limited exceptions. Your situation highlights the difficult balance between privacy... View More
I am considering a step-parent adoption for my child, whose biological father passed away a few years ago. Currently, there is a mediated visitation agreement with the grandparents, though it hasn't been signed by a judge. I haven't informed the grandparents about the potential adoption,... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Missouri, a step-parent adoption can potentially affect the grandparents' visitation rights, but it does not automatically terminate them. The law allows grandparents to petition for visitation, and unless there is a compelling reason to restrict their access, such as safety concerns or... View More
I have had sole custody of my nephew for nearly 10 years after my sister lost custody due to neglect. I would like to adopt him and change his last name to mine and my husband's. My sister, the biological mother, is uninvolved and lives in a different county, and there is no biological father... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
To begin the adoption process for your nephew in New York, you will need to complete the adoption packet provided by the family court. Since you have had sole custody of your nephew for nearly 10 years, you likely meet the residency and care requirements for adoption. The forms you will need to... View More
I am a female and a U.S. legal permanent resident (valid green card holder since 2019). My biological child will be born in Mexico (with my own egg, a surrogate mother, and a sperm donor) in Mexico City, Mexico. The Mexican birth certificate will list only the surrogate as the mother. I have a... View More
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answered on Mar 23, 2025
Your situation involves complex immigration considerations that merit careful planning. Bringing your biological child born via surrogacy in Mexico to the U.S. under the 8 CFR §211.1(b) waiver presents several challenges you should prepare for in advance.
The primary hurdle will be... View More
I adopted my daughter from India in 2022, and we currently reside in NJ where she was granted a birth certificate recognizing me and my husband as her parents. She entered the US on an IR3 Visa, negating the need for readoption in NJ. However, we're relocating to California, and I'm aware... View More
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answered on Mar 22, 2025
Your daughter with an IR3 visa is technically not required to be readopted in California, as readoption is optional but highly encouraged if you received an IH-3 or IR-3 visa. Since she already has a New Jersey birth certificate and Certificate of Citizenship, the legal foundations are in place.... View More
As grandparents of a two-year-old, what are our chances of adopting her? She has been in our care for three months due to her biological mother's meth use and her biological father's criminal charges. MN Prairie is involved, and while the father is compliant with rehabilitation and... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Your chances of adopting your grandchild in Minnesota will depend heavily on what the court sees as being in the child’s best interest. Since she has been in your care for three months and the county (MN Prairie) is involved, the child protection system is already assessing the situation. The... View More
I fostered a child for over a year, but the child has now been returned to their biological parents. During the fostering period, there were no legal proceedings to terminate the biological parents' rights, and I haven’t tried to adopt the child. I would like to know if I can obtain parental... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2025
I understand that this is likely a very emotional situation for you, especially after forming a strong bond with the child during the foster placement. In New York, however, the law gives significant weight to the rights of biological parents, particularly when those rights have not been terminated... View More
Can my stepdad adopt my child without the biological father's consent or knowledge, given that the biological father is in contact with and supports the child, but does not have any legal parental rights? The biological father does not want the stepdad to adopt the child.
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answered on Mar 19, 2025
In California, a stepdad cannot adopt a child without the biological father’s consent if the father is involved in the child’s life and provides support. Even if he does not have legal parental rights, he still has a say in the adoption process. The court typically requires either the... View More
I want to adopt my stepdaughter in Florida, and her biological father is not listed on her birth certificate. I have been her dad since her first birthday, and she is now almost 11 years old. The biological father has never had contact, and we do not know where he is. I am married to her mother,... View More
answered on Mar 31, 2025
Yes, you can adopt your step daughter with her legal/biological mother's and father's consent. However, the court can waive the consent requirement for any parent that has abandoned the child, as that term is defined under Florida Statutes.
My parents have full legal guardianship over my 7-year-old nephew, who has ADHD, depression, and undiagnosed autism. My sister lost custody of him six years ago and relinquished her rights. I have been a mother figure to him since his birth and wish to adopt him permanently. While my mother... View More
answered on Mar 10, 2025
Unless he has been in your custody for six months or more and you have been the sole provider of his care and finances, you don’t have standing to seek custody from your parents.
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