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What should I know as a stepparent looking to adopt stepchildren?

On Behalf of | Apr 29, 2021 | Adoption

If you’re a stepparent, you will know first-hand that the love you can feel for a non-biological child can be just as strong as any other. You will love and want to protect your stepchild in just the same way that you will love your biological children. The only difference in your eyes is the definition and the rights that you have under the law.

You may have concerns about the security of the relationship with your stepchild from a legal point of view. For example, it may be that you want to ensure that you are seen as a real and stable parent in the eyes of your stepchild so that your family feels complete. Alternatively, you may want to ensure that you have all of the associated legal rights that come with being a parent. The following is an overview of what you should know as a stepparent looking to adopt.

You will need to get consent

In order to adopt a stepchild, you will need to get consent both from your spouse and from the other parent of the child. The only circumstance in which you would not need to gain consent from the other parent is in a situation where they have abandoned the child.

You will need to look at the laws in Tennessee

The laws on stepchild adoption vary from state to state. Therefore, you will need to look into the specific details of the law in Tennessee to understand how the process will look in your situation.

Provide the required information in the filing forms

You will need to provide some basic information as well as proof of this information when filing. You may need to provide details of the length of your marriage and the place of birth of your child, for example.

If you want to adopt your stepchild, you should be aware that it can be a long process It is important that you take action to start to process as early as possible.

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