Why Adopt a Stepchild?

Many stepparents think of their stepchildren as if they were their own. If that’s the case for you, you may have thought about wanting to adopt your stepchild. Of course, you and your family will need to decide whether adoption is the right choice for your specific circumstances, but in general, adopting a stepchild offers a number of wonderful benefits.

Generally speaking, as a stepparent, you don’t have the legal right to make any major decisions for your stepchild. Adoption would provide you with that right. Adoption would also entitle you to visit your stepchild in the hospital if he or she were to ever fall ill or get injured, and to maintain a connection with your stepchild if something were to happen to your spouse. What’s more, adoption would solidify the bond that you’ve spent years developing with your stepchild, legally establishing that you’re each other’s family.

Other Things to Consider

Adoption is a big step, and it’s important to consider all of the implications before making a final decision. Just as you currently don’t have the legal right to participate in decision-making, you also don’t have any legal responsibility for your stepchild. However, if you were to adopt him or her, you would be taking on that responsibility. If your stepchild’s other parent (not your spouse) was ordered to pay child support, adoption would terminate that obligation. Adoption would also entitle your stepchild to an inheritance from you, and in the event that you and your spouse ever divorced, you could be liable to pay child support.

Family Law Attorneys Assisting With Relative Adoptions in Tampa Bay

If you’re interested in moving forward with a stepchild adoption, you can get the legal assistance you need from the Law Offices of Audrey A. Jefferis, P.A. We have extensive experience handling stepparent adoptions, and we will walk you through every step of the process. Contact us today to arrange a consultation.