Stepparent Adoptions

At the law firm of Lynette Silon-Laguna, P.A., I am experienced and proficient in the area of stepparent adoptions of stepchildren who are either minors or adults. I have concentrated in this area of adoption law for over 10 years.

If the adoptee is a minor, then the adoption can either be contested or uncontested. If the natural parent consents to the adoption then there is no litigation involved with the adoption process; however, there are certain statutory requirements that must be met for an adoption to be entered. In general, once an adoption is entered, the adoptee’s name on his or her birth certificate is changed to reflect the stepparent’s surname. All legal relations between the adoptee and the birth parent and between the adoptee and the relatives of the birth parent are terminated by the adoption, as are all parental rights and responsibilities of the birth parent. This includes termination of any child support obligation of the birth parent to that child when the adoption is entered.

If the adoption of a minor is contested by the birth parent, then whether that parent has abandoned the child under the legal meaning of the term will be at issue. Essentially, abandonment occurs when the natural parent, “while being able, makes no provision for the child’s support and makes little or no effort to communicate with the child, which situation is sufficient to evince an intent to reject parental responsibilities”.

To schedule a free consultation and to discuss the specifics of your divorce, child custody/visitation/support, paternity, stepparent adoption, and name change case at the Brandon/Riverview/Tampa Law Firm of Lynette Silon-Laguna, P.A., call 813-672-1900 or contact via email