When a parent remarries, the stepparent may become more of a parent to the child than the other birth parent. When this happens, it may be in the child’s best interests to be adopted by his or her stepparent. Stepparent adoption is the most common form of adoption. If the absent parent has had little contact with the child and is willing to sign a consent, then the process can be relatively straightforward.
With over 30 years’ experience, attorney The Irving Law Firm provides adoption legal services to stepparents wanting to adopt their stepchildren. If you have questions about the process in Virginia, call a Manassas and Fairfax stepparent adoption lawyer.
The birth parent of a child to be adopted may not be ignored. He or she has the same rights as any other parent until the adoption takes place, even if he or she is not listed on a birth certificate and has not seen or supported the child. If the birth parent cannot be found through a diligent effort to do so, he or she may be served with notice of the proceeding by publication of notice in a local newspaper. If the written consent of a birth parent cannot be obtained, then the court will require that a home study investigation and report be conducted by the local Department of Social Services.
Virginia law provides that the court may enter an adoption even when one of the birth parents does not consent to the adoption. Before a court can do this, the judge must find that the consent of the birth parent is unavailable or is being withheld contrary to the best interests of the child. This involves an investigation by the Department of Social Services and a trial in court at which time evidence is presented to show why the adoption is in the best interests of the child. In making the important determination that the consent of a birth parent is withheld contrary to the best interests of the child, the court must consider all relevant factors, including:
Fairfax stepparent adoption lawyer The Irving Law Firm has handled more than 2,500 successful adoptions throughout the state since beginning the practice of law in 1978. Because of his extensive trial experience, he has been called upon to try contested adoption cases, as well, throughout the Commonwealth.
The Irving Law Firm provides adoption legal services throughout Northern Virginia and Central Virginia from our office in Manassas. For more information, call us to speak directly with The Irving Law Firm or to schedule a consultation to discuss stepparent adoption and all your adoption options.
The Irving Law Firm
9253 Mosby St., 2nd Floor
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 844-4118
