NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson’s son, Michael’s life reminds us that every human being is of tremendous worth and value.  Be inspired to recognize that value in all those around you today: https://www.today.com/parents/parents/nba-broadcaster-ernie-johnson-shares-late-sons-powerful-adoption-story-rcna4466?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR1Jx4gvwp6sZ578441_k_oD8uW6iUttJZZ-E-Yf_GG4AdQ8-YJ9btt8CO4 The post “There’s value in everybody… Find it.” appeared first on Adoption Law Group ..read more

What are some reasons to turn my guardianship into an adoption? Converting your guardianship to an adoption in California is a relatively straight-forward legal process.  There may be several reasons to turn your guardianship into an adoption.  First, even though a legal guardianship gives full legal custody to the guardian, there are some restrictions, such as obtaining the court’s permission to move out of state and notifying the parents of any moves within the state.  Guardians may also worry that the parents or another family member will try to terminate the guardianship by ..read more

Their family, their friends, their community is here. Their citizenship should be, too. Tell Congress to close the loophole and pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 before it expires! Through no fault of their own, some people who were adopted internationally by U.S. citizen parents still lack U.S. citizenship today. As a result, these individuals have had to endure numerous problems including difficulty attending college, accessing banking services, or starting their careers. Without their rightful citizenship, they are unable to vote or access critical government supports and services su ..read more

Is it possible to complete an adoption without parental consent? The answer depends upon what type of adoption we’re talking about and of course the unique circumstances of each case. In a CA stepparent adoption, the custodial parent whose spouse is trying to adopt generally must prove that the other parent “has left the child in the care and custody of the other parent for a period of one year without any provision for the child’s support, or without communication from the parent, with the intent on the part of the parent to abandon the child.” (Ca Family Code §7822). This is often referred t ..read more

A quick review of websites advertising stepparent adoption reveals that most attorneys or document preparation services who advertise their prices offer a low “flat fee” for most stepparent adoptions. It’s important to remember that the fee listed is most likely just for an uncontested adoption, where the non-custodial parent can both be located and is willing to sign a consent to the adoption. In those cases, the only other costs in addition to the attorneys’ fees is the mandatory stepparent investigation (In California it’s currently $700.00 in most counties) and the filing fee (in most Cali ..read more

Guardianship is intended to be a temporary solution for families who find themselves unable to care for a minor child, either due to medical, financial, or some other hardship. A guardianship puts the parents’ rights on hold and gives rights to the guardian (like the right to make health care decisions, education decisions, choose where the child will live, put them on medical insurance, etc.). There are other ways to accomplish this in some cases (like through a Power of Attorney executed by the parents), but a guardianship is a more long-term solution and creates more stability regarding the ..read more

We are all trying to navigate these very strange times and it’s still difficult to guess just how far-reaching the health and financial effects of Covid-19 will be. Obviously, for those waiting to bring home a child they are adopting internationally, the additional uncertainty and waiting time is incredibly disappointing. On the domestic front, tightened finances may make beginning the journey towards infant adoption for daunting; on the other hand, this is an excellent time to research options online and make phone calls to possible agencies and attorneys. We’re affiliated with AdoptMatch, an ..read more

In California stepparent adoptions, a very common concern is whether it’s possible to proceed with the adoption when the birth father is no longer in the country and either cannot be found or will not consent to the adoption.  The short answer is yes, most likely.  Whether the father was deported or has left the United States voluntarily does not matter.  What matters is where the child is, where the act that is the basis of terminating his rights occurred, and what kind of father he is.  California law generally divides fathers into two categories:  presumed and alleg ..read more

Whether or not you need an attorney to adopt your stepchild in California depends on several factors.  Since we’re adoption attorneys, it’s tempting to say, “of course!” but we also want everyone, regardless of income, to have access to adoption, so here’s the honest answer: If the biological parent who is no longer involved in the child’s life is either deceased or willing to sign a consent to the adoption, most people can complete the necessary paperwork on their own by obtaining a packet of forms from the branch of their local county superior court where adoptions are processed.  ..read more

The Difference Between Stepparent and Second Parent Adoptions in California We routinely consult with potential clients who are in committed relationships and know they want to adopt their partner’s child but aren’t sure if they have to wait until they get married or not. The basic answer is no. In California, an unmarried person may adopt their partner’s child through a process known as “second parent adoption.” Basically, the custodial parent “places” their child for adoption with their partner but executes an addendum in which they retain their parental rights. This involves two meetings wi ..read more