Allison P. Pieroni

New Mexico Family Law Attorneys

In our opinion, stepparents are anything but wicked or evil. Stepparents "step in" to shoulder some of the responsibility and joy of raising children to which they have no biological relationships. Stepparenting is truly a labor of love, and stepparent adoptions usually formalize a relationship that is already a parent-child relationship in everything but name.

Just as a child may have only two biological parents, a child may have only two legal parents — though they do not need to be the same. In a stepparent adoption, one biological parent relinquishes his or her formal parental rights, which the stepparent then assumes control of. Once the stepparent is named the child's legal parent, the stepparent will have easier access to the child's school and health care decisions. Stepparent adoptions are also beneficial for estate planning and guardianship reasons. A stepchild will be an automatic heir of a stepparent's assets if the stepparent passes away without writing a will. The stepparent will also have more rights to remain the child's custodian in the event the other legal parent passes away. A legal stepparent also has more child custody rights in the sad, but possible, event that the marriage ends.

Start to Finish Legal Help With Albuquerque Stepparent Adoptions

At Atkinson & Kelsey, we are proud to provide thorough and practical legal representation to adoptive stepparents. Our lawyers provide clear and calm guidance through the entire process, from obtaining formal relinquishment of rights from the child's current legal parent, through the possible home study and counseling for the child, all the way to the stepparent adoption hearing and the name change petitions.

We Are Honored to Be a Part of Your Family's Growth

Learn more about how the experienced attorneys of Atkinson & Kelsey can provide assistance and advice during a stepparent adoption. To schedule a consultation at our Albuquerque office, call toll free (888) 350-5903 or use our online contact form.