Other Topics: How do I adopt a child? What are the types of adoption? What about telling the other parent? Does everyone have to agree to the adoption?

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How do I adopt a child?

How do I adopt a child?

How do I adopt my spouse's or domestic partner's children?

How do I adopt a child if I'm not the child's stepparent or the domestic parent of the child's parent?

What is a birth parent?

How do I adopt a child?

It depends. If you are the child's stepparent or the domestic partner of the child's parent, click here. If you, or your spouse or domestic partner, are not the birth parent of the child, click here.

How do I adopt my spouse's or domestic partner's children?

To adopt your stepchild or the child of your domestic partner, you can do a Stepparent Adoption.

The steps you have to follow are:

1. Fill out the court forms. Click here for the instructions. Click here for all the Adoption forms.
2. File (opens in new window) your forms at the court.
3. Let your child's other birth parent know about the adoption. You do this by serving (opens in new window) the other parent with the Adoption Request (Form ADOPT-200), which has the court date on it.
4. The other birth parent has to agree (consent) to the adoption. If she or he doesn't agree, click here.
5. Have an interview and investigation with an investigator, who then writes a report. Find out who handles the investigation in your county. Usually, the investigation is done by a court investigator, a licensed social worker, or a licensed family therapist.
6. Go to court. Make sure you find out from the clerk of the court when you have your final hearing. The child must go to the hearing.

How do I adopt a child if I'm not the child's stepparent or the domestic partner of the child's parent?

It depends. There are three types of adoptions when you are not the spouse or domestic partner of the child's parent:

• Agency adoption: when the Department of Social Services or a licensed adoption agency is part of the adoption case.
• Independent adoption: when no adoption agency or the Department of Social Services is part of the adoption case.
• International adoption: when the child to be adopted is born in another country.

Remember, if you are not married to the child's birth parent or you are not the child's parent's domestic partner, you have to do an agency, independent or international adoption. If you are a single person trying to adopt, you also have to do an agency, independent or international adoption.

What is a birth parent?

Birth parent usually means the biological parent. It can also mean the other parent when a couple has a child together legally (like same-sex couples or heterosexual couples that use artificial insemination using a donor).

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