17th Circuit Court
Step Parent Adoptions
A stepparent adoption occurs when a custodial parent marries and together with his/her spouse petitions to adopt the custodial parent's child and terminate the other parent's parental rights.
In a stepparent adoption, an adoptee will remain an heir of their biological parent whose rights were terminated and will also become an heir to the adopting parent.
Requirements
- Kent County requires that petitioners be married for 1 year prior to filing and be residents of Kent County
- A home assessment is required. The Court will schedule this after the case is opened.
- Parental rights must be terminated unless the non-petitioning parent is deceased
This is accomplished by:
- The non-custodial parent consents to the child's adoption (In this scenario the Court would schedule a consent hearing for the non-petitioning parent to Consent before the Judge) or
- By petitioning the Court to terminate the non-custodial parent's rights involuntarily. (See additional forms section for the appropriate petition.)
- Children 14 years of age or older are required to consent to their adoption
Additional Forms
- Supplemental Petition and Affidavit to Terminate Parental Rights - Step Parent Adoption
- Petition For Hearing to Identify Father and Determine or Terminate His Rights
- Declaration of Inability to Identify/Locate Father
- Record Clearance (anyone over the age of 18 in the household must complete)
- Reference Letter (3 required)
- Ex Parte Motion for Alternate Service (Step Parent)
- Relatives of Adoptive Parents ExcelSheet
FAQ
Coming Soon