Practice Area
Child Adoption Cases
Guidance Through the Colorado Adoption Process
Meaningful Support
Experienced legal guidance for stepparent, second-parent, and agency adoption across Colorado.
Regardless of the circumstances that have led you towards adoption, the attorneys at The Chariot Law Firm are ready to take on your case to ensure a stress-free process.
Adoptions create a legal parent-child relationship between an adult and child who do not have a biological parent-child relationship. Through the process, the adoptive parent(s) and children will ultimately have the same rights and obligations as biological parents and children.
At The Chariot Law Firm, we can assist you with:
Stepparent Adoptions
Contested Adoptions
Second-Parent Adoptions
Agency Adoptions
Stepparent Adoptions
Stepparent adoptions create a life-long commitment to a child by a person with no legal obligation to do so. A stepparent who chooses to go forward with a stepparent adoption affirms their love and commitment for the child, while also assuming all legal rights and responsibilities of a biological parent.
When a single parent remarries, they and their new spouse may choose to move forward with a stepparent adoption. In a stepparent adoption, the biological parent retains their parental rights, but the parent-child relationship with the other biological parent is terminated or severed.
Termination of the parent-child relationship with the non-custodial parent can occur in two ways: consent or a judicial finding of abandonment. In those cases in which the non-custodial parent refuses to consent to the termination of their parental rights and the stepparent adoption, their parental rights can be terminated through a judicial finding of abandonment.
When deciding whether abandonment has occurred, the Court must look at a variety of factors including the history of financial support and contact by the non-custodial parent. Here, a non-custodial parent’s actual conduct, rather than excuses or claimed intentions, is what really matters.
Second Parent Adoptions
In some cases where a child has a sole legal parent, a second parent adoption may be utilized. Second parent adoptions are commonly used by same-sex couples or in cases of assisted reproduction in which the biological father may be unknown.
To qualify for a stepparent adoption, the child must have only one legal parent and a home study must be completed by a social worker licensed to perform such evaluations. These are the main ways in which a second parent adoption differs from a stepparent adoption. In most ways, the process is the same for either type.
The Representation You Need from a Qualified Colorado Adoption Attorney
The adoption process can be complex and marred by red tape. It’s important to find a Colorado Adoption Attorney who is familiar with the specific requirements for each type of adoption, and can guide you through the specific process in your county.
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The Chariot Law Firm represents clients throughout the Denver metro area and across Colorado, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. If you need immediate assistance, please call our office during normal business hours.