San Fernando & Santa Clarita Valley Adoption Lawyers

Offices in Valencia, Burbank, Encino and Westlake Village, California

What is adoption? Adoption is a legal process that involves taking another person’s biological child into your family to raise him or her as your own. After a person legally adopts a child, he or she is legally responsible for that child’s wellbeing, for providing food and shelter, and for providing for the medical and educational needs of the child. In a standard adoption, the rights of the birth parent are terminated when the rights of the adoptive parent are recognized.

Becoming the legal parent of a child carries with it both rights and obligations. You will have the right to custody as well as the responsibility to care for the child and make decisions about his or her education, health and more.

Step-Parent Adoptions

At times, a step-parent will wish to adopt his or her spouse’s child. In these cases, the rights of the birth parent are not terminated, as they will be shared with the adoptive parent. In some respects the legal process associated with a step-parent adoption is easier to go through than one involving another form of adoption. However, there are disputes that may arise if the other parent of the child (usually the non-custodial parent) attempts to object to the adoption. However, a lawyer can assist you in addressing any issues that do arise.

Why an Adoption Attorney?

Adoption is a legal process. Specific forms must be filled out and filed properly and there is always the possibility that a difficulty will arise that will need to be addressed. By working with an adoption attorney in the first place, you can help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible and that if any issues do arise that they are sorted out efficiently.

Contact a adoption attorney at Cutter & Lax today for a free consultation regarding your step-parent adoption! We represent clients throughout Valencia, Burbank, Glendale, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and the surrounding areas in the San Fernando & Santa Clarita Valley.