Adoption is a legal process by which a legal adult, other than one of the biological parents of the child, become legally responsible for that child. There can be stepparent adoptions, or third-party adoptions, which occur when a grandparent wants to adopt his or her grandchild. Stepparent adoptions are most common when the parent who was granted legal custody of the child or children during a divorce remarries and the stepparent wants to legally adopt the children. If one biological parent is deceased, the motivation for the adoption may be to make sure the child has two parents to love and care for him, but more often the reason is so the stepparent who lives in the same home with the children becomes legally responsible.
Contested or Uncontested?
In an uncontested adoption both parties are in agreement regarding the specific conditions of the adoption. Whether you are the biological parent who has agreed to give up your parental rights through the process of adoption or you have consented to the adoption of your biological child by a stepparent, the adoption is considered uncontested. Conversely, if you are the biological parent who has stated your objection to a stepparent adoption, it will be considered a contested adoption because you wish to preserve your parental rights. You may also object to the stepparent adoption of your grandchild, niece, nephew or other relative, which also renders it a contested adoption.
Financial Considerations
Many time in an uncontested adoption, the biological parent has cooperated with the process because once the stepparent adopts the child, he or she becomes responsible for the child in all ways, including financially, leaving the biological parent no longer legally required to pay child support.
Legal Assistance for Adoption Procedures
The adoption process, whether contested or uncontested, can be a very complicated procedure. It is very important to hire an attorney who is familiar with the juvenile court rules and procedures, as well as the paperwork and filing procedures--a skilled adoption attorney can also relieve some of the stress and confusion involved in some adoption proceedings.
