Adoption of a Relative
Adoptions by Relatives: Issues and Answers
When a biological parent is unable to care for a child for whatever reason, a relative may often step forward to serve as that child’s guardian or adoptive parent. At Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California, we have seen such situations arise due to a variety of reasons including:
- A biological mother is involved in drug use
- A biological father is in jail
- A family member experiences an unplanned pregnancy
- An accident resulting in the death of the parent(s) leaves the children orphaned
At Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California, we have been providing caring, considerate and skilled guidance to parents involved in relative adoptions since 1987. We understand better than anyone else the issues as well as the joys of relative adoption or foster parenting and adoption not only from a professional standpoint, but from a personal one, as well. Our principal attorney at Family Building, Ted R. Youmans, and his wife Sheryl, office manager, have raised and adopted relatives due to tragic loss of birth parents themselves and have experienced the process first hand. They can not only speak from expertise, but this also allows them to speak from personal experience.
A relative adoption can happen in a number of ways:
The birth parent can request that a relative be appointed as the guardians through a guardianship, or as a result of a foster care arrangement. The biological parent can also give their consent for a relative adoption.
If necessary, we may need to proceed with a termination of parental rights of the biological parent.
Providing a stable home environment for a family member can be very valuable and rewarding for all those involved including yourself, the child, and the biological parent(s). Choosing family adoption allows you to be that village that your family member needs to help raise this child and dramatically change their trajectory in life. When you as a biological parent choose to have a family member legally adopt your child, it keeps your child out of foster care and prevents them from being placed with a family that you and your child do not know. One of the many reasons why family adoption is an attractive option and someone biological parents opt for whenever possible is because the child might even be raised alongside cousins or other children that they already know as opposed to being exposed to other children who would be placed in foster care.
Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California can help you provide shelter and a home for a child that is a member of your family through our comprehensive process of adoption of a relative. This process helps to preserve that generational line and allows the child to remain connected to their own extended family as well. The child will be more likely to remain in closer communication with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even other siblings. Another great benefit for the child is that being adopted by a relative will allow for familiarity with language, culture, and environment that can ultimately play a major role in the child’s growth and development. It can also allow the child to even assimilate to their new home in a smoother and more organic way. This is not to say that it is an easy process for the child as they will no longer be with their biological parent(s), however, being adopted by a relative can result in a much different outcome than that of a child going into foster care with a family that they have never met before and moving to an, often times, drastically different environment. Stability is key for a child as they grow which is why being adopted by a relative is a wonderful option.
If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or even older sibling, you are eligible to become the adoptive parent through relative adoption. The ethical adoption attorneys at Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California have proudly served, assisted, and supported many families through this process and would love to have the opportunity to help you navigate this process. Oftentimes there are relatives who would love the opportunity to help a family member through relative adoption, but are hesitant to go through the process due to financial strain. We do not want finances to hinder anyone’s ability to adopt a relative and help in this way which is why we are proud to have reasonably proceed lawyers and agency associations that will ensure that you feel confident in stepping forward and going through the relative adoption process.
The adoption of a relative is a heroic and selfless act that is oftentimes strung on a family member, particularly when the child is orphaned or is in need of being adopted due to a tragic or unexpected crisis. Being able to provide a loving and safe home for this child is a rewarding decision that will impact your life and the life of the child in a very positive way.
What sets Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California apart from the other agencies as it relates to relative adoption specifically is that the principal attorney at FamilyBuilding, Ted R. Youmans and his wife Sheryl who is the office manager have gone through the process themselves and understand first hand how to navigate this particular type of adoption. Adoption of any child is not merely a legal process, but an emotional commitment and a decision that we do not take lightly. Many families who decide to go through the relative adoption process have never gone through a process like this before and are not familiar with all of the intricacies that go into it. Our knowledgeable and ethical attorneys will not only walk you through the entire process, but educate you along the way so that you can be sure that you are making informed decisions that will benefit all parties involved as well as ensure an optimal outcome for the child. Here at Adoption Law Firm Anaheim California servicing all of California, we would be privileged to solidify your family through the beautiful gift that is relative adoption.