What if the natural father of the child objects to an adoption by my husband?
When a "natural" parent, whether it is the mother or the father, objects to an adoption, it becomes similar to any "contested" case. It becomes a difficult case to win for an attorney, because it becomes a forced "Termination of Parental Rights" of the natural parent, which is a lawsuit unto itself.
As bad as a natural parent may be,the Courts require significant proof to terminate his or her parental rights.
When undertaking a contested adoption, it is critical that a client understand the road ahead before proceeding. If at all possible our Firm reaches out to the objecting natural parent to discuss the best interest of the child or children being adopted. If that parent can get past their initial reaction and see that the it is in the best interest of the child for the adoption to take place, then the battle is won.
For an interesting case involving a contested adoption and it's pitfalls, see In The Adoption Of A. M., A Minor: A. H. vs K.M. And J. J., 2020-CA-00296-SCT, handed down just this August. I can E-Mail you a copy of the case if you are interested...just contact me.
How hard is it to Adopt My Stepchild?
Our Law Firm has handled many adoptions over the years, including adoptions for children who were not family members but from Russia, the Ukraine, South America, etc.
However, many times a Step-Parent who has raised a child or children since they were young wants to adopt them, and only waiting for the right time. As happy as that parent is to adopt, we have found that many times the child or children to be adopted are more enthusiastic about the adoption than the adoptive parent! The adoptive parent is the only true father or mother the child has known, and most want their last name changed to that of the adoptive parent.
These are the Uncontested Adoptions, and we handle those cases from start to finish, including getting new birth certificates that show the adoptive parent(s) as the true parents and changing the child's last name, if he or she wants that.
What if the natural father objects to my husband adoptiing my child?
When a "natural" parent, whether it is the mother or the father, objects to an adoption, it becomes similar to any "contested" case. It becomes a difficult case to win for an attorney, because it becomes a forced "Termination of Parental Rights" of the natural parent, which is a lawsuit unto itself.
As bad as a natural parent may be,the Courts require significant proof to terminate his or her parental rights.
When undertaking a contested adoption, it is critical that a client understand the road ahead before proceeding. If at all possible our Firm reaches out to the objecting natural parent to discuss the best interest of the child or children being adopted. If that parent can get past their initial reaction and see that the it is in the best interest of the child for the adoption to take place, then the battle is won.
For an interesting case involving a contested adoption and it's pitfalls, see In The Adoption Of A. M., A Minor: A. H. vs K.M. And J. J., 2020-CA-00296-SCT, handed down just this August. I can E-Mail you a copy of the case if you are interested...just contact me.
