ADOPTION & ART ATTORNEYS IN MARYLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA & VIRGINIA
What is Kinship Adoption? A relative adoption, sometimes referred to as a kinship adoption, is when an adult adopts an eligible family member. Sometimes this occurs when a child has already been living with a family member who has acted as their guardian or parental figure, and the family decides to legally protect the child’s status within the family through a relative adoption.
Relative/Kinship Adoption Services in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC
Sometimes relative adoption occurs when a child has already been living with a family member who has acted as their guardian or parental figure, and the family decides to legally protect the child’s status within the family through a relative adoption.
In other situations, a mother may know she is unable to provide for a child, so she relinquishes her parental rights to a trusted family member. This family member becomes the child’s legal parent, but the child’s birth mother can remain an active part of the child’s life.
Whatever your reasons for adopting a relative, We while finding new ways to care for children. We can guide you through the family adoption process with ease, whether you are adopting in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
Can I Adopt My Sibling, Niece/Nephew, Grandchild or other Family Member?
Yes — if you’re eligible to adopt a child, you can adopt a minor child who is related to you through a family adoption in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia. We have helped family members legally adopt their younger brothers, sisters, siblings’ children, grandchildren, cousins and more.
Keep in mind that if your relative is not a U.S. citizen, you will need an immigration attorney to assist you before completing an adoption. Your relative must be a U.S. citizen in order for us to complete your kinship adoption.
How to Adopt a Family Member’s Baby
Have you ever wondered, “How do I adopt a relative’s child?” The process of adopting a sister, brother, cousin, niece, nephew or any other relative living in the United States is generally the same. However, there will be some variations depending on the state you reside in and your individual situation. We can help you navigate these legal steps of adopting a relative’s baby in DC, MD or VA.
In general, the adoption process of adopting a family member’s baby is considerably simpler than other types of adoption. Some parts of the domestic adoption process will not apply to the kinship adoption process, which can make the process easier and faster. For example, Maryland, § 5-3B-12, which requires the child’s biological parent to petition the court for approval before placing the child for adoption, and § 5-3B-24, which requires the adoption petitioner to file with the court an accounting of all payments, are not applicable when the child is placed for adoption with a relative of the child. Learn more about when a child may or may not be placed in the care of a relative in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia here.
While some elements of the adoption process may be waived when adopting a family member, depending on where you live and how long the child may have been living in your care, the kinship adoption process in MD, VA and DC often goes as follows:
- You’ll obtain consent from the child’s parents and/or the court will terminate their legal parental rights.
- You’ll petition the court to adopt your family member.
- You may have to complete home studies and submit any necessary documentation to verify that you’re prepared to parent the child.
- The child will be placed in your care, and you may undergo a post-placement supervision period.
- You’ll attend a finalization hearing several months later, where you’ll be granted legal parental rights.
An experienced attorney is required to help you complete an adoption, even if you’re adopting a relative. We can help you through the relative adoption process in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Contact us now to learn more about how to adopt a sister, grandchild, nephew or other relative.
Why Complete a Kinship Adoption?
If you’ve already been caring for a child in your home, adopting a family member may seem like an unnecessary formality, especially if everyone has been comfortably adhering to the informal arrangement. However, there are several reasons to consider legally adopting the child in your care:
- You can make medical decisions and access their medical records without needing their biological parents’ permission, which is particularly important in the event of an emergency.
- The child can benefit from your insurance and social security.
- The child can inherit from you.
- You can enroll the child in school and take them to the doctor and extracurricular activities (and more) without having to get signed permissions from their biological parents.
- You can legally solidify the emotional bond you have with this child. In the eyes of the law, they can simply be referred to as your child.
One of the greatest benefits of kinship adoptions is that they are a simpler legal process than a traditional
infant adoption. Still, you'll need an adoption attorney to complete the relative adoption process.
When you adopt a family member, just like with any other type of adoption, you need to make sure the process is completed correctly. Doing so protects you and the child. We will walk you through the relative adoption process, from obtaining the consent of biological parents to post-placement assessments. Experienced with Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., kinship adoption laws, we can ensure your family’s permanence and protection.
We pride ourselves on our hands-on approach to all of our cases.
You'll receive expert individual attention and guidance as you become a permanent, legal family through the process of a relative adoption.
Contact us now if you’d like to learn more about how to adopt a relative.