Is It Possible to Adopt an Adult?
Adult Adoption in Kansas
If you are a stepparent or other adult who has been a parental figure in the life of another for years but were not able to adopt them prior to them turning 18, you’ll be happy to know that the process for adult adoptions is far more straightforward. Adopting an adult can formalize your position as their parent and highlight your commitment to being there for them into the future. An experienced adoption attorney can help you make this desire a reality.
Adult Adoption
Adult adoption in Kansas refers to the legal process of an older adult adopting another adult who is younger than they are, and the process is guided by Kanas Adoption and Relinquishment Act. Once the adult adoption is complete, the law recognizes the pair as parent and child – and affords them all the rights and responsibilities associated with a parent-child relationship, including both parties’ inheritance rights. When a stepparent adopts an adult child, it severs the legal parent-child relationship of the parent who has been replaced but does not affect the parental relationship of the adult child’s biological parent who is married to the stepparent.
The basic requirements for an adult adoption include:
The adult being adopted must be at least 18 years old and give their written consent to the adoption.
Your spouse must approve of the adoption, they do not have to adopt.
Filing for an Adult Adoption
In order to adopt an adult, you’ll need to make three primary filings.
The Adoption Petition
You are the petitioner and you will need to file a petition, which is the document that requests the court to order an approval of the proposed adoption. In it, you’ll need to cover all the following:
The name, age, birthdate, and birthplace of you and the adult adoptee
The length of time you’ve known one another
Your motivation for seeking the adult adoption
The name of your spouse, the date of your marriage, and the same information for the adult adoptee if they are married
The consent of your spouse and the consent of the adult adoptee
The Decree of Adoption
In order to finalize your adult adoption, you’ll need a court hearing, and if the presiding judge approves your request, they’ll issue a decree of adoption. Both you and your new adoptive child must attend the hearing.
Adopting Your Stepchild
Many stepparents want to adopt their stepchildren when the children are still young, but they are thwarted by a lack of consent from the biological parents they’ve replaced. Once your stepchild turns 18, however, the consent of the other parent is not required, and the adoption process includes the opportunity for a name change as well.
One of the most significant differences between an adult adoption and a traditional adoption is that, because the child in question is no longer a minor, no home study or any kind of investigation is necessary, which helps streamline the process and also cuts down on expenses. Most adult adoptions can be completed in under 60 days. It’s important to note, however, that adult adoptions do not suffice for purposes of immigration.
Discuss Your Adult Adoption with an Experienced Kansas Adoption Attorney Today
Adopting an adult is an excellent way to seal your love for and commitment to the child you may have helped to raise and think of as your own. Once the child turns 18, you can make the parent-child relationship official in the eyes of the law with an adult adoption, which affords all the rights and responsibilities of this primary relationship. While the adult adoption process comes with fewer obstacles, it remains a challenging legal matter for which professional legal counsel is well advised. If you are interested in adopting your adult stepchild, don’t delay reaching out for more information today.
You can call, text, or email me anytime -call or text: 785-217-4603, email: lisa@theadoptiongroup.com, or Facebook message: https://www.facebook.com/theadoptionlawgroup/. The office phone is answered 24 hours a day, every single day. I make every effort to respond to emails and text messages within a few minutes of receipt.
POSITIVE ADOPTION LANGUAGE DISCLAIMER: These blog posts are written using language people use when searching for help with their adoption plans. Unfortunately, while many of us understand what positive adoption language means, most expectant moms that come to me at first do not. Like it or not, the search term, "how do I give up my baby for adoption," is the most common. If I do not include those words in the blog posts and instead write "how do I create an adoption plan for my baby," my website will not show up in most expectant moms' search results in Google.
