Here to help you navigate the adoption process

Second Parent Adoption

Second parent adoption is a process that allows one partner to adopt their partner’s child without terminating either biological parent’s rights. Both people in a same-sex relationship are presumed to be the legal parents of a child born during that relationship in Washington State. 

However, many same-sex couples choose to go through second-parent adoption to become the legal parents and ensure they are recognized as the legal parent when traveling. Schedule a consult with one of our adoption attorneys to understand your options. 

Step-Parent Adoption

If you are a stepparent, you have likely created a deep bond with your partner’s child. That bond will play an important role in that child’s life, but if anything were to happen to your partner, you might not have a say in that child’s future. In Washington, children can only have two legal parents. 

To adopt your partner’s child from another relationship, the birth parent must give up their parental rights or have those rights terminated, and the court must determine if the adoption is in the best interests of the child. Contact our office for a consultation. Our adoption team can work with you to answer any questions you may have.

Open Adoption

Washington allows birth parents to maintain a relationship with their children in an open adoption setting. This enforceable contract specifies the type of contact biological parents and possibly biological siblings may have after the adoption is finalized. Our attorneys can discuss the level of contact and what is right for you and your family.

Closed Adoption

There is generally no communication in a closed adoption between the adoptee, birth parents, and adoptive family. An experienced Washington-based attorney with our firm can help you petition the court for this kind of adoption and prepare you for questions about the child’s background.

Adult Adoption

Any adult can adopt any other adult if they agree. This can be a joyous gift to formally recognize the role of an adult who has played a significant role in your life. The adult adoption process is celebratory, quick, and can be very meaningful to a relationship that has often already existed for many years. 

There can also be important estate planning reasons to consider an adult adoption. You should speak with an Estate Planning attorney before moving forward with an adult adoption. One of our experienced family law attorneys can guide the adoption process, and our estate planning team can help ensure your wishes are recorded.