Stepparents can also adopt their stepchildren. Married couples with blended families tend to take this step to bring greater coherence and harmony to households.
To carry out a stepparent adoption, you must be married to the legal parent of the child and the other parent of this child must be absent. You will need to file a petition for adoption with the court. You will be a petitioner and the spouse will be an Interested Party. In the petition, you must include the birth date and place of the child, the proposed last name of the child should the adoption go through, statement of the stepparent’s life with the child, and reasons for the adoption. The court will finalize the adoption, and a child will obtain a new birth certificate with his new name and parents.
Do I Need an Adoption Lawyer?
In every adoption case, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a lawyer on basic points of law. In the more complex types of adoption, you should retain the services of an attorney throughout the process. If you want to adopt your stepchild and your spouse is a citizen of a different country, you will have a better chance of getting a faster and favorable outcome with the help and insight of a lawyer.
All adoptions in Ukraine are best done with the help of a lawyer. This kind of adoption is best handled by an experienced adoption attorney that understands the sensitivities of the process. Our law office is ready to handle any questions you may have regarding the adoption process.