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At the Phoenix law firm of Lasiter & Jackson, our attorneys help stepparents understand and navigate the adoption process. If you need legal or practical advice about the steps you need to take to adopt your spouse’s child, contact one of our lawyers.
Our lawyers advise you on what to expect at every stage of the adoption process and help you overcome any obstacles along the way. We can help you through the home study and background check and advise you as to whether or not any problems are likely to arise.
The hardest part of stepparent adoption can be finding the child’s other biological parent to terminate his or her parental rights. We can assist in locating that parent or finding alternate ways of proceeding in the adoption process. A petition for termination of parental rights (TPR) will need to be filed in court before an adoption can occur. It will be necessary to show a reason for the termination, such as abandonment of the child or unfitness as a parent.
Because we have a great deal of experience with the termination (severance) of parental rights, we can usually make an accurate assessment of your chances before we even start the case. In a case where a biological parent is willing and able to maintain a significant relationship with his or her child, we will advise you about other ways to secure your own relationship with your stepchild.
For additional information about our ability to provide dependable advice to stepparents interested in adoption, contact a family law attorney at Lasiter & Jackson in Phoenix, Arizona.
