Adoptions By Relatives Or Stepparents

Adoptions by Relatives or Stepparents

Adoptions by Relatives or Stepparents

Adoptions by relatives, such as aunts, uncles, brothers, or sisters are generally easier to arrange than adoptions by people who are not biologically related to the child. Many children already live with the relatives who seek to adopt them. Social service agencies usually perform background checks, such as screening the adoptive parent for a history of criminal behavior or child abuse. However, background checks of relatives seeking to adopt are generally less extensive than the checks required of adoptive parents who are not related to the child.

In a stepparent adoption, the spouse of a biological parent adopts the child. Stepparents often adopt the children of their spouse to establish a closer relationship with the children and to become their legal guardian. Adoption by stepparents is the most common form of adoption. Because a biological parent of the child lives in the household, this type of adoption is usually the simplest to arrange. Background investigations are often waived. Because the law recognizes only two parents for each child, the parental rights of the biological parent who does not live with the child must be terminated. Usually, the biological parent who does not have custody of the child consents to the adoption. (1)

Types of Adoptions

Adoptions by Relatives or Stepparents
Agency and Private-Placement Adoptions
Adoptions: Intermediaries and Materially Assisting Persons
Open and Closed Adoptions

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also


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