If you marry a spouse who has children from a previous relationship, you may want to adopt them. Alabama family law allows such adoptions of children age 19 or younger under certain conditions. Here are the answers to several questions stepparents often ask about establishing this permanent legal family bond.

Adopting Stepchildren Under Alabama Family Law

What does it mean to adopt a stepchild?

Adopting stepchildren means you become their legal parent permanently. Your responsibilities and rights are the same as if they were your natural-born children, such as financial support obligations, child custody, and inheritance rights.

Does my stepchild’s other birth parent have to agree?

Your stepchild’s other birth parent must give written consent to the adoption or relinquish their parental rights. After signing a consent agreement, birth parents have up to 14 days to change their minds. 

In certain cases, their rights can be terminated by the court without the parent’s consent. This scenario will be determined by a judge with the child’s best interests in mind.

Can I pay the birth parent to give consent?

Offering payment for parental consent to adopt is a criminal misdemeanor in Alabama. Meanwhile, a parent who accepts payment for giving up their parental rights can be charged with a felony.

Are there ways stepparent adoptions differ from the regular process?

The stepparent adoption process is much less formal and doesn’t require placement investigations or accounting for adoption costs. If you and your stepchild have lived together for one year or more, the stepparent procedural rules apply. Alabama family law allows the Probate Court to disregard the one-year requirement for good cause.

When considering whether to adopt your stepchild, seek counsel from J.P. Coleman Law, LLC, Attorneys at Law. These family law attorneys offer experience and a high level of individualized client service to help you obtain the result you deserve. While every case is different, these skilled and knowledgable lawyers have helped numerous families throughout Metairie, LA, reach successful conclusions in child custody and stepparent adoption cases. Visit their website to learn about their family law services and call (251) 947-6247 to schedule a consultation today.