Representing clients during adoptions is among Freed Marcroft’s most fulfilling work. Our Connecticut adoption lawyers have helped families finalize adoptions, including stepparents and same-sex parents. Freed Marcroft helps clients emotionally and legally as they formally complete their family unit. Once the adoption is finalized, the child becomes the adoptive parent’s legal child without exception. Whether you are the non-biological parent of a child conceived using assisted reproductive technology, want to become the parent of your spouse’s child, or something else, reach out for legal help. Our compassionate family law attorneys will explain the process and help you move closer to growing your family and strengthening your legal rights.
REASONS TO ADOPT
Clients come to Freed Marcroft to start the adoption process for many reasons. Most commonly, people choose adoption to:
- Protect their legal rights when a child is conceived via assisted reproductive technology.
- Protect the legal rights of a same-sex parent.
- Get the right to make decisions for the child.
- Provide security for the child.
- Strengthen the family unit.
SECOND-PARENT & STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS
Stepparent and second-parent adoptions occur when one member of the couple has a biological child that the other person legally adopts. Once the court finalized the adoption, the child has two legal parents. Second-parent adoptions sometimes happen when a parent dies or is uninvolved in the child’s life. When the child’s primary parent remarries or enters a long-term committed relationship, the new spouse or partner will often adopt the child.
People also choose second-parent and stepparent adoption when a child is born via assisted reproductive technology. When couples use this technology, only one is the biological parent. Connecticut presumes the other is the parent. However, not all other states recognize Connecticut’s parental rights presumption. Plus, someone can challenge it even in Connecticut). A second-parent adoption ensures both parents have full legal rights to and responsibilities for their children.
ADOPTION FOR SAME-SEX PARENTS
When a child is born to married same-sex spouses, there is a marital presumption that both spouses are the child’s legal parents. This is true even when one parent is not biologically related to the child. However, not all states recognize the Connecticut presumption. A stepparent adoption ensures both spouses have full legal rights and responsibilities for their children. If you have a known donor, make sure the court has terminated his rights. Freed Marcroft’s Connecticut child adoption lawyers in Connecticut can represent a termination of parental rights. We can frequently accomplish this at the same time as the adoption.
When a child is born to unmarried couples, there is no marital presumption that the non-biological parent is a legal parent. A second-parent adoption fixes this problem. Without it, in the event of a problem, the non-biological parent may have to seek custody or visitation rights, just as any third party with a substantial relationship with the child would.
INTERNATIONAL & DOMESTIC ADOPTION
In Connecticut, all adoptions where neither prospective parent is biologically related to a child must be done through an adoption agency. The only time an adoption agency is not required in Connecticut is in the case of a stepparent or second-parent adoption in Connecticut.
Freed Marcroft’s adoption lawyers represent clients during their international and domestic adoptions, working hand in glove with their adoption agency and advising them regarding any Department of Children and Families (DCF) involvement.
