Adoption Q&A by State
Your current state is Virginia
Adoption Questions & Answers
Q: what should I do to help a dog that I believe is still being neglected by its original owners?
So for the past 3 weeks this dog that we believed that was a stray, ie. it had no collar, has been visiting us at all hours of the day, 24/7. Around the third week, we took him into our house as we did not want him to get struck by a car during his daily trek to visit my dog. This stray was... Read more »
Call Animal Control. He's off leash so the owners are in violation of the leash law, and possibly mistreating him. You can attempt to adopt him through Animal Control if that's what you want.
Q: Can my husband adopt my daughter, if her biological father has not paid child support in 6 months consecutively?
My child's father is wishy washy. He is a dad when it's convenient and its hard to get state mandated child support from him. He said he would not sign the papers for my husband to adopt my child, because it would make him look like a dead beat dad. He sees her occasionally. Lives on his parents... Read more »
It sounds like it's time for an intrafamily adoption. You don't need bio dad's permission. Hire an adoption attorney.
Q: Can someone please explain la civil code 199 to me
It means adopted kid can inherit from both adopted family and bio family.
Q: I live with my dad and he is mentally abusive to me mostly. I babysit my 2 siblings from 8 to 10 hours a day. I’m 15
I get no compensation. I don’t want my dad to get into trouble and get my siblings taken away. I want to know what my options are to get out of my house. Could I move in with a different family member? Would I get in trouble legally for leaving?
You generally have only two options - let your mother know so she can Petition the court for a change of custody or report that you are being abused to children's services or a school counselor or your doctor. If you report abuse there will be an investigation and you and your siblings could be... Read more »
Q: How can I find out my real fathers name,age,residence.
I never recieved any info from my mother before she passed. I Grew up as if everything was a secret in my life. I have a birth certificate with adopted dad its a chapter 31-10 and 290-1-3 what does that mean and why is my life before adoption non exsisting. Rumor had it i was a foundling child. I... Read more »
Have you considered hiring a private detective to see if the can locate the information for you? That may be a route you want to consider. Also, have you discussed this with any other family members who may be able to assist you in putting the pieces together? -Homer P. Jordan IV, Esq.... Read more »
Q: What steps do I need to take to adopt my nephew? Do we have to go to court if the parents are willing?
My sister realized the she isn’t financially fit to take care of a child also she doesn’t have the best living situation so she reached out to me and my wife to see if we were willing to take her unborn child when she gives birth. After a long talk with her and her boyfriend we all decided this... Read more »
The parents' parental rights will have to be terminated and an adoption petition filed. Your county may have guidance available online for completing this process which is somewhat complicated. I'd suggest that you retain an attorney to shepherd this through the system for you but, if you don't... Read more »
Q: Iam married in register office with hindu guy now iam getting marry with Muslim guy it is possible
If you are married to 2 people at the same time, that is against the law. Discuss your case with a family law attorney.
Q: What can we do if the non custodial parent, the mother, hasn't contacted the children for 12 weeks?
The mother hasn't seen or spoken to the children in 12 weeks. She is ordered to pay child support but is 1700 behind. She will also not give us a residence where she lives. We believe her to be homeless.
We always text her to see if she will be getting the kids on her time but never a... Read more »
It is possible for a step parent to adopt children. However, there are certain legal hurdles that have to be met before this can occur. You will need an attorney to assist you to ensure that it is done correctly. I would advise that you reach out to an attorney for a consultation so that you can... Read more »
Q: 18 U.S. Code § 3283. Offenses against children
My son was taken from in maryland when he was 5 years old i did not have a custody order, his mother took him to texas and legally signed over his custody to his granparents without my permission, he is now 26 years old, I have just located him, I would like to know if i can still file a charge... Read more »
I am sorry to hear about your situation. If there was no custody order, then likely there was no parental kidnapping. Absent a custody order or mandatory injunction upon filing a petition, a parent is free to relocate with a child
Q: How can I adopt my former step children in Tennessee? They are adults.
This is not something a layperson can do without an attorney. An adult can be adopted ( of course, they must consent). Like an legal proceeding, it begins with preparing and filing with the clerk of the court a written petition ( request) for adoption, giving the required notice, and scheduling a... Read more »
Q: My husband wants to adopt my 9 year old child. Her bio- father has agreed to terminate his rights. How do I start this?
My daughter's bio father has not seen her/spoken to her in 7 years.
This would be a stepparent adoption. You'll have to file the appropriate petition to terminate his rights and submit the correct document signed by him. And you'll have to file a petition for adoption along with all the necessary forms and documents. You'll probably have to learn what the local... Read more »
Q: Stepparent adoption?
The biological mom of my 2 daughters lost them to state in 2015 never did anything to get them back my husband and I got the kids and at that time he recieved full custody also, with the bio mom receiving 1 hour supervised visits a week and 2 phone calls. Well she has always been a heavy addict... Read more »
This is something you'll need to consult with a local attorney about to see if judges in your area will modify the judgment. It sounds like you've already gotten everything you can from the court short. You would have to show some sort of detriment to the kids to get no contact between a parent and... Read more »
Q: In tennessee can a women sign as the father on a birth certificate when the child is born?
Will they get the "fathers" last name and rights to the child?
Only the father can sign a V.A.P. ( voluntary acknowledgement of Paternity). If not signed by the father at the time of birth, the only way to established parentage for a child born out of wedlock is for either parent to file paternity proceedings and have DNA testing done.
Q: Temporary custody/ guardianship. Complicated. Dont know where to start.
19 year old is taking care of younger siblings. Has power of Attorney for them. Mom is incarcerated dad out of the picture (abusive). The 19 year old want to join military and needs someone to take care of the kids while he is gone. We are willing to take care of them (we are not related to them)... Read more »
He can go to probate court and establish a guardianship for them with you as the guardians.
Q: Child's father refusing contact before and after birth, what are my options?
My childs father disappeared after he found out that we had a child (even though we were trying and it was planned). He hasn't changed his mailing address and he is having all of his family refuses any contact with me. I honestly want him to just sign away his rights. I have been seeing someone who... Read more »
The father can certainly give up all of his rights if there is another ready and qualified to adopt. You’ve got a number of steps to follow and because of such you should consult an attorney to assist you. Good luck. 888-343-4529.
Q: What has to be done to get out of a military contract prior to going to naval academy.
My brother in-law just turned 18 and is about to go to naval academy. The thing is he never wanted to be in the military. Both he and my wife lived in an abusive adopted household and he was forced to enlist. He only just turned 18 and finally moved out, he is willing to do all most anything, even... Read more »
Based on the information provided in your question he would have to contact the school if he is to attend college, if he has an enlistment contract he would have to talk to the recruiter who signed him up to try and void it. If her can't by the time he is supposed to leave I would advise him to... Read more »
Q: If rights are terminated and daughter is adopted by foster family can i adopt her in the future if agreed by foster?
My rights were involuntarily terminated and want to know if i turned my life around in the future can i adopt her if her foster family agrees to it. The bond is there and my daughter loves me and wavered between wanting to be with me and wanting to be with foster family
There is a lot of missing information that may be pertinent to provide a complete answer to your questions such as what were the reasons your parental rights were terminated- was there abuse, neglect, drug use, illness, abandonment, etc. Also, the age of the child is a relevant factor because... Read more »
Q: A grandma legally adopts her grandson from the court after parental rights are terminated from parents.
Can the grandma (now legal natural parent) later on privately adopt the child to a better fit home?
Probably.
Q: My fiancee has a 3 year old from a previous relationship and the father is not in his life at all and my fiancee has to
Pull teeth to get child support payments. Is there any way I can adopt him?
First, in Oklahoma a step-parent adoption requires you be married to the child’s parent for one (1) year. Second, you have to meet the qualifications set out in the law, mainly dealing with criminal history. Third, If the child is over twelve (12), they would have to consent. If these... Read more »
Q: I adopted a puppy from a shelter on Saturday today the shelter calls me and tells me the owner wants it back
Turns out the shelter violated the mandatory hold law and let me adopt the stray puppy aftr 3 days at the shelter. I dont want to give it back he is part of the family now and my son adores him and calls him buddy. What do i legally have to do
You can keep the puppy or you can give the puppy back. You are fine either way. The shelter is the one with the problem if they adopted him out too soon. Although, you may want to consider the length of time the puppy had been with the prior owner, how the puppy got loose, and whether your son... Read more »
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