Adult Adoption

The many reasons to adopt an adult

Adult adoptions are more common than ever, and they can occur in a wide range of situations. Stepparents often adopt their grown stepchildren, and foster parents often adopt their long-time foster children when they reach 18 years of age. Adult adoption makes sense in other situations, including:

• Ease of inheritance: Adult adoption helps ensure that financial assets and property rights are transferred more easily to the adoptee.
• Long-term care: A trusted caretaker may adopt an orphaned or isolated adult who is physically or mentally incapacitated. This authorizes the caretaker to make medical or financial decisions.
• Formalize an existing relationship: An adult who is estranged from the biological family and shares a strong and loving bond with a non-relative may elect to formalize that relationship.
• Reconnect with a birth parent: An adult can re-establish the legal parent-child relationship that previously existed between the parties.
• Protect family assets: Childless parents can adopt an adult with whom a close relationship has been established in order to protect their legacy.

Adult Adoption Requirements

Florida’s adult adoption requirements are far less restrictive than those involving a minor child.

• Only the consent of the adoptor and the adoptee are required.
• The adoptee’s parents are only required to receive notice of the final hearing. Consent is not required.
• If the adoptee is married, his or her spouse should consent, but the court may not require it.
• A home study is not required. However, the court may order an appropriate investigation to help determine if the adoption is in everyone’s best interests.

If you’re considering an adult adoption, we can help you evaluate the facts at no charge. Like any other adoption, it’s a very personal decision that requires careful consideration and should be in everyone’s best interest. Some issues to think about:

• All existing legal relationships between an adult adoptee and the biological or custodial parents will be severed.
• A new birth certificate will be issued, and the adult adoptee will have the option of a name change or retaining the same name.
• The adoption records will remain confidential and the file will be sealed when the adoption is completed.

With more than 30 years of adoption experience, our board certified adoption specialists can walk you through the process of adopting an adult. If you decide to move forward, we can make it happen for you.

Ready to get started?

Contact us for an initial consultation.

• Our flat fees for adult adoption start at $3,250 plus costs.
• We accept all major credit cards.
• Expedited completion for uncontested adult adoptions available.

Adult Adoption

https://www.yesandyes.org/2016/06/adult-adoption.html

My husband is in the process of adopting two of my biological adult children now. My daughter is 22 and my son is 24. It is never too late! -Elizabeth