The answer is “Yes,” and it depends upon a number of different factors. If it’s a situation where you would like to adopt your stepchild, then you would need to show that the biological parent of the child consents to you adopting the child or that there has been abandonment or failure to support the child for a period of at least one year. If that’s the case, then you can file a petition for a stepparent adoption.
There is a specific procedure that you have to go through. I can help you with that process. Essentially you have to go and get fingerprinted. You have to do a background check. You have to do what’s known as a trails check, which is to make sure you haven’t had any complaints lodged against you for child-related reasons. Then you have to file a petition for stepparent adoption with the court in the county where you reside.
If you get consent by the biological parent, the process can go very smoothly. It would just be a matter of appearing at your court date and presenting your situation to the judge as to why this stepparent adoption is in the best interest of the child. If the biological parent opposes the stepparent adoption, then you’re going to need to be prepared to present evidence as to why this is in the best interest of the child and evidence of abandonment or failure to support.
