A significant number of spouses are serving as stepparents in deed if not in name. Many of these stepparents want to take the logical next step and formally adopt the children they are caring for each day. The stepparent adoption process is usually straightforward, but there can be complications that delay the process, or even prevent it from being completed. Stepparents wishing to adopt a child should seek out the services of a team of experienced family law attorneys.
Barberi Law is a law firm with extensive experience in stepparent adoption cases. We work diligently to accomplish adoptions by stepparents in an efficient manner. Our firm also represents biological parents who do not wish to give up their parental rights.
Call us at (989) 546-7124 to schedule a free consultation about a stepparent adoption case.
Facilitating Stepparent Adoptions
If you wish to adopt your stepchild, our family law attorneys can handle all aspects of your case. We can prepare the adoption petition and supporting materials, work to obtain the consent of the biological parent, prepare you for the home study (if needed) and represent you in court. Our goal when handling your case will be to accomplish the adoption in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.
If the biological parent refuses to consent to the adoption, depending on the facts of your case, we can take your case to court and seek to obtain an order to terminate the parental rights of the biological parent.
Can grandparents in Michigan obtain visitation rights after a stepparent adoption? In most, if not all cases, the answer is yes. That being said, often, time is of the essence. Barberi Law can advise and represent you in such cases.
Representing Biological Parents
A biological parent who does not want to give up his or her parental rights can contest an adoption by a stepparent or another party. Our family law attorneys can represent you in court, presenting your case and providing the court with reasons why you should retain your parental rights. Alternatively, we can negotiate and seek to obtain post-adoption visitation rights for you. As with all matters involving custody and visitation, Michigan courts always make their decisions based on what they perceive to be the “best interests” of the child or children involved.
Contact Us
For a consultation with a Central and Northern Michigan stepparent adoption attorney, contact the legal team at Barberi Law.