However, stepparents do not have the same legal rights as birth parents. With blended families becoming ever more common in today’s society, many families want to make the stepparent-stepchild relationship permanent, and more importantly, legal. A stepparent adoption, governed by Chapter 63 of Florida Statutes, grants legal recognition to and solidifies the emotional bond between the married stepparent and stepchild. A stepparent adoption grants the stepparent all the rights and responsibilities of a biological parent while simultaneously terminates the parental rights of the birth parent, and simplifies inheritance rights, custodial rights, and other legal issues that may later arise between the stepparent and the stepchild.

 

Chapter 63 also provides for a legal process for Relative Adoptions. A “relative” is defined as “a person related to the child by blood within the third degree of consanguinity,” for example a grandparent, uncle, aunt, or sibling.

 

Wheaton Law Firm is experienced in bringing families together through stepparent and relative adoptions. The process of stepparent and relative adoptions may be complicated, but it becomes easier with Wheaton Law Firm advocating for and guiding you through the process. Contact us today for a consultation.