We can guide you with the adoption of a child in your family.
If the parents of a niece, nephew, sibling, cousin, or another family member of yours cannot take care of their child, they may still want the new parent to be a member of the family. If you have decided to step forward and adopt a member of your nonimmediate family, the process can be as rewarding as it is challenging.
These adoptions are known as relative adoptions, and there are many benefits of this type of adoption, including:
- Children can inherit assets without any additional legal action.
- The new parents can establish legal standing as the guardian to prevent any litigation in the future.
- The new parents can make important decisions about the child, including regarding the way they are raised and their education and medical care.
- The child can benefit from having a sense of stability in their new household.
At Hildebrand Law Office, P.C., our adoption law firm has overseen many relative adoptions over the years. We have bonded many families together in LaFayette, Georgia and the surrounding areas through adoption, and we are excited to help you with your adoption situation.
We recognize that relative adoptions can involve more emotional entanglements than other forms of adoption, and we can help you successfully navigate all phases of the adoption in a compassionate, straightforward manner. To learn more about relative adoptions or to set up a consultation with our adoption attorney, contact us today.
View Client Adoption Information Private Form
View Adoption DHR Form 413
FAQs About Relative Adoptions
At Hildebrand Law Office, P.C., we help build families through various avenues of adoption, including relative adoption. If you have a family member who has approached you about adopting the child in their care, it’s a good idea to talk with an adoption attorney. Over the years, we’ve answered many questions regarding this situation, some of which you can find listed below.
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What is relative adoption?
Relative adoption is the legal process by which a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or other family member adopts a child who is connected to them by blood or marriage. It lets a family member legally take care of the child.
Why do people choose to adopt a relative?
People choose relative adoption for many reasons, such as keeping the child in the family, keeping traditional or familial ties alive, giving the child a stable and loving home when the biological parents can’t, and making the adoption process easier.
Do I need a lawyer to adopt a family member?
Adoption laws can be hard to understand, and a lawyer can help make sure the process goes smoothly. We can file the necessary paperwork, represent you in court, and ensure the child’s best interests are considered. We also help you navigate the emotional process and understand what your rights are.
Do both original parents have to agree to an adoption by a family member?
Most of the time, yes. Usually, both original parents must agree to the relative adoption unless the court has taken away their parental rights due to abandonment, neglect, or some other legal reason.
What happens to the child's last name when a family member adopts them?
As part of the adoption process, the child’s last name can be changed. The courts and the adoptive family will decide if the child’s last name will change or stay the same.
At Hildebrand Law Office, P.C., we assist clients with relative adoptions in LaFayette, Kensington, Rising Fawn, Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, and Trenton, Georgia.