Step Parent Adoption Lawyer Serving Greater Cincinnati

After a divorce, families can change in many ways. Often times, particularly when a biological parent has little involvement in his or her child's life, it can make sense for a willing step parent to adopt a step child as his or her own. If you are a step parent interested in adoption, a knowledgeable attorney can be invaluable in guiding you through the process.

At the law office of Eric L. Anderson, LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, we provide step parents with skilled representation and knowledgeable legal counsel as they seek to adopt their step children. You can trust us to ensure that your rights are fully protected from start to finish.

Get the personal attention you deserve for your important family law issues. Call (513) 360-4935 today for a free initial consultation with an experienced family law attorney.

Are You Eligible to Adopt?

The first step in a step parent adoption case is determining whether or not you are eligible to adopt your step child. First of all, if you wish to adopt you must be married to the child's parent for at least a year. After filing to adopt, an investigation will take place into your situation, including a criminal background check. Some criminal convictions will prohibit you from adoption, so it is important to be forthcoming about your background.

How Does the Process Work?

If you are deemed eligible, you still must deal with whether or not the biological parent will give up his or her parental rights. In many cases, the biological parent will simply give consent voluntarily. If a parent does not, I can investigate facts that show that the biological parent has not been in touch with his or her child or paid child support in the last year.

Often times an absentee parent is willing to give up their parental rights and consent to the adoption because it will result in limited child support obligations. Once your adoption has been approved by the courts, the child's birth certificate will be reissued with your name present as a parent.

Contact us today to explore your adoption options with an experienced step parent adoption attorney.