Discover why surprising your stepparent with adoption paperwork isn't feasible, but learn how to approach this heartfelt gesture in a meaningful way. Explore the emotional and legal aspects of stepparent adoption today.

Wondering about parental rights?

A second parent adoption happens when a second parent obtains complete parental rights without the “first parent” losing any rights.

Family Formation Law Office is excited to announce that effective June 1, 2019, Maryland adoption and parentage laws will be changed for the better!

Adopting a child, while wonderfully rewarding, is a complicated legal process. It often requires guidance from experienced attorneys and professionals. All adoptions in Virginia begin with a home study and conclude with a finalization of the adoption.  Home Studies for Adoption in Virginia An approved home study is required for every prospective adoptive family in Virginia. This process must take place before before a child can be placed in your home. The home study will be performed by one of Virginia's licensed child placement agencies. Everyone in your household will participate in some aspect of the home study process (except young children). Virginia does not allow those who are convicted of certain crimes to adopt children. These crimes include (but may not be limited to):

How does an attorney notify a birth father in Maryland if he is unknown? Maryland requires that a birth father be notified of an adoption plan.  In Maryland, notice is given to the birth parent by service on them of a Show Cause Order from the Court, if the birth parent’s address is known.  The Show Cause Order provides the birth parent with the case number, name of the child and where they must file paperwork if they wish to object to the adoption. 

Under Virginia law only certain persons over 18 years of age can be adopted by another adult.  Adult adoptions usually involve family members, like a step-parent who has stood in loco parentis (in the place of the parent) for at least three months.  The adult adoption is also permitted for a “close relative”, which is defined as someone who is the person’s grandparent, great-grandparent, adult nephew or niece, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or adult great uncle or great aunt.

On October 6, 2014, the United States Supreme Court denied the review of the seven Federal Circuit Court rulings from the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuits.  These rulings held state bans on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution.  In doing so, the Supreme Court has allowed those favorable rulings for same-sex marriage to stand.  This means that five more states will be added to the list of states allowing same-sex marriage including Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Indiana, and Wisconsin.  It also means that marriage bans in the other states within those Federal Circuits will likely be invalidated.  This would include North Carolina, South Carolina, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and West Virginia. 

As recently reported by the Washington Post (an article in which I provided background information for), many lesbians from Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and other states that prohibit second parent adoption are coming into the District of Columbia to give birth so that they can complete their adoptions and obtain the legal recognition as parents to their children in their home states. 

The “Accuracy for Adoptees Act,” requires that a Federal Certificate of Citizenship for a child born outside of the United States reflect the child's name and date of birth as indicated on a State court order or State vital records document issued by the child's State of residence after the child has been adopted in that State.