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Collaborative Family Law Mediation Litigation Marital Agreements Separation and Property Settlement Agreements Premarital and Post-Marital Agreements Family Law Divorce Property Division Custody and Visitation Relocation Child Support Alimony and Spousal Support Stepparent Adoption Wills and Powers of Attorney

(703) 591-0056

Practice Areas

• Collaborative Family Law
• Mediation
• Litigation
• Marital Agreements
  • Separation and Property Settlement Agreements
  • Premarital and Post-Marital Agreements
• Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Property Division
  • Custody and Visitation
  • Relocation
  • Child Support
  • Alimony and Spousal Support
  • Stepparent Adoption
  • Wills and Powers of Attorney

Stepparent Adoption

Persons wishing to adopt a spouse’s child from a previous marriage or relationship can do so provided they have consent from the child’s biological parent.  A parent who consents to a stepparent adoption permanently forfeits and severs his or her parental relationship with the child and is no longer entitled to custody or visitation rights. Any child support obligation of the biological parent is terminated once the adoption takes place.

Biological parent refuses to consent to the stepparent adoption

If a biological parent refuses to consent to the adoption, the stepparent, joined by the spouse, must petition the court and show that the best interest of the child will be served by allowing the adoption. 

In cases where a child has an ongoing relationship with his or her biological parent, the adoption may be denied.