Adoption Q&A by State
Your current state is Virginia
Adoption Questions & Answers
Q: How do I go about adopting a friend’s baby?
She is currently pregnant and we have discussed this situation numerous times. I just need to know what to do to start the process and make things official.
Contact an attorney that handles private adoptions, who can explain the process and requirements. You need to have one retained prior to the baby’s birth. Give me a call and I’ll be happy to discuss the process and expected costs involved.
Q: I have sole custody, what proof do I need to show of abandonment etc so my new spouse can adopt my children?
I was given sole custody, all divorce states is I have sole custody and respondent to pay X Amt of child support.No visitation was granted etc. Nothing has ever been paid, and he has not even had contact in nearly 3 years. He has had CF and CM arrests in the past few years (drug abuse)with deferred... Read more »
If the biological father has not had substantial contact with the child in 12 months, you may be able to proceed with an adoption without the biological father's consent on the grounds of abandonment. Failure to pay child support and lack of interest in exercising visitation in this time can be... Read more »
Q: Can I get my rights back even though my daughter has been legally adopted for 15 years & I have raised her for 15 years.
My parents convinced me to relinquish my rights when I was 18. I stayed living with them to raise my daughter for 15 years. I am now married and living on my own and they will not allow my daughter to live with me. Is there anything I can do to get my daughter back with me?
You only mention that you relinquished your rights. Is it possible that your daughter was not formally "adopted"? If not, then you may have parental rights as they may not have even filed any documentation with the court. If they have formally adopted her then that will be a harder road to... Read more »
Q: I am married but I also pay child support and there is no court order is it legal for her to keep my children from me?
I live in celina ohio my wife currently keeps the kids from me for long periods of time like hides for no reason. She currently moved out of this trailer and her neighbors said a bunch of crazy things about her and what happened when she lived there but any ways. There is No court custody agreement... Read more »
If there is no court order for custody, then each married parent has equal rights to the child. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local family law attorney to review your situation and advise you of your options.
Q: If someone is adopting the child and they say they don’t want the back child support?
Does the child support still have to be paid? In Chattanooga TN
The termination of parental rights required in an adoption will terminate the current child support obligation, but it does NOT terminate any arrearages or past due support. However, it would be up to the recipient to take action to collect it, and if they are not very aggressive in doing so, it... Read more »
Q: As a step mother can I adopt my step son if my husband had majority custody and we’ve had him his entire life of 13yrs?
His dad has custodial and domiciled custody and his birth mom gets visitation and was ordered to pay child support, but she doesn’t do it on time or anything else for him and she forfeits her visitation periods often.
Yes, you have standing to adopt. Whether the birth mother has to consent or can object to the hearing is another issue. This depends on whether she has failed to pay a court order of support or failed to communicate with the child without just cause for over 6 months. Give me a call and I’ll be... Read more »
Q: Are post adoption agreements enforceable and if so, if the birth parent abandons the child regularly?
The birth parent goes 3-5 months without speaking to or checking on the child causing a disturbance in the child’s life. The birth parent also disrupts the child by speaking badly of the mother and father.
All legal agreements are enforceable. Moreover, in this situation the agreement should specify how frequently the birth mother can have contact with the child--not the other way around. Finally, your last allegation has the most teeth. If it is true that the birth mother is "speaking badly" of the... Read more »
Q: Can my husband of 6 years adopt my 12.5 year old son ? Does the biological father have to consent?
I was 15 when I had my son out of wedlock. I had my sons last name changed to my maiden name right before he turned 3 ,due to his biological father being absent . We have a dhr child support order , that he pays on and off . Currently hasn't paid since August of 2018. He hasn't seen my son since he... Read more »
The short answer is yes. There appears from what you have said to have been a more than 6 months period during which there has neither been emotional or financial support provided by the father and therefore the child is considered abandoned and can be adopted under Alabama statute by the step... Read more »
Q: If I live in Florida , what Would be estimated costs of a stepparent adoption of Step Kids
The absent parent hasn’t given consent but also have loads of evidence against his mentally abusive ways and he hasn’t contacted kids in well over 2 years hadn’t visited in 4 and 2 of the 3 kids are over 14
It depends on each lawyer and on the complexity of the process...I don't have enough information to give a detailed proposal.
Q: do i need permission from my ex for my fiancé to adopt if I have sole physical & legal custody?
My ex recently after 5 yrs just starting repaying back support, he has renewed his interest which leads me to believe he would not actively participate and cooperate with my fiancé adopting my daughter. The ex hasn’t seen my child in over 4 years because he has long history of substance abuse.... Read more »
The legal standard for adoption is different than for granting sole custody. A natural parent must be notified of adoption proceedings. Adoption generally requires the natural parent's consent or a court order terminating the natural parent's rights as a parent (in extreme circumstances).... Read more »
Q: My boyfriend and I have been together 3 years. Shortly after he got guardianship of his sisters 2 boys.
We are not married so my name is not on the paperwork, but for the better half of 3 years I have been their mom. They call me mom. I am the only one who works, he lives off the money the state provides him. I am the one who does 90% of everything for those boys. My boyfriend and I are not working... Read more »
Unfortunately, you currently have no legal standing in relation to those boys. If your boyfriend is unfit, you could petition to have him removed as guardian and you be appointed their guardian instead. Otherwise, if you and he separate, he would determine when and if you can continue to spend... Read more »
Q: I have permanent custody of my grandson and would like to adopt him. His therapist suggested adoption due to his emotion
His therapist suggested adoption due to his emotional health when visiting with the father and other grandmother. My daughter has signed her rights away already. What would be the first step towards adoption, he is 7 yrs old.
In Arkansas, if the parents of the child go more than one year without a stable relationship with the child OR go one year without paying significant support OR their rights have been removed, you should be able to adopt.
We need to have the documents where the mother lost her rights.... Read more »
Q: Is it abandonment if he knew about his child and hasn’t contacted me since he found out?
My son is 16 months old. The last time I spoke to his father was four days after I told him that I was pregnant. He was fairly wishwashy about whether or not he wanted to be involved in his child’s life, so I told him that he had my number and to call me when he made up his mind. I never heard... Read more »
It may be possible for your husband to adopt your child once married. In order to do so, the father's rights will have to be terminated. Lack of contact and/or support for over 1 year is grounds for termination, if the judge finds it to be in the child's best interests to do so. You should consult... Read more »
Q: What forms do I need to file a step parent adoption in Virginia
A petition and draft order will get you started.
See Va. Code § 63.2-1241. Adoption of child by spouse of birth or adoptive parent.
Q: So trying to find out what I need to do for my step dad to adopt me.
I'm 33 years old.
It depends on your age. How old are you?
Q: If I’m 19 and my nieces have been in foster care for 2 years. could I get custody of them ?
You would have to go through foster parent training and certification. You should speak with the childrens' caseworker to discuss the requirements.
Q: My niece is 12, lives with Mom, wants to live with Dad. How old does she have to be to request and get perm? Ohio btw.
Niece is 12 years old, mother had her in highschool, they live in Ohio, father is in Tennessee and they have never been married. He never fought for custody. Niece wants to live with Dad. How old does she have to be to request this and gain permission? Father wants her.
Niece doesn't get to decide. If a court has not granted father any parental rights, then her mother has sole legal custody, and she gets to make all parental decisions. Father could file for parental rights, and the court would then decide what is in the best interest of the child. Father should... Read more »
Q: What ALL has to be done for me to get custody of my kid back after I signed adoption papers over to my parents?
My parents fought for the adoption because I was an ex drug addict and they thought i was still using when i wasnt.. I have been clean for 2 and a half years now and would be absolutely willing to take a drug test to prove that. My daughter is almost 4 years old. My mother gave me no option but to... Read more »
That question is much too complicated to answer on-line. You will need to retain an attorney to review all the facts and circumstances, and advise you what actions you would have to take. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney.
Q: What is the distance that Tennessee will extradition
I'm living in Florida and I now have a probation warranty in Tennessee
I had a guy picked up in Philadelphia, PA by Tennessee Dectectives, because he did not serve his 48 hours for 1st time DUI. He was flown to Tennessee and put in jail.
Q: My nephews mother through him out . He is 16 in California can I bring him to Az ?
He tells me she drinks all the time and dates he is a good kid is getting his diploma online and working a part time job. I have an apt with an extra room he can stay with me. Any info will be helpful.
If she has thrown him out, she may be willing to agree to let him stay with you. You should draft a simple agreement stating that she is giving you guardianship, power of attorney, and legal decision-making power and have her sign it in the presence of a notary public. There are numerous websites... Read more »
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