Stepparent Adoption

Date: April 2022
Stepparent Adoption

Series Title: Factsheets for Families

Author(s): Information Gateway

Year Published: 2022

File Size: 347 KB

If you adopt as a stepparent, you agree to become the legal parent to your spouse's child and to be fully responsible for them. After the adoption occurs, the noncustodial parent (the parent not living with the child) no longer has rights or responsibilities for the child, including child support. This bulletin discusses legal issues associated with stepparent adoption, as well as the adoption of a foreign spouse’s child. It includes the steps required to prepare for the adoption and resources to help stepparents after the adoption is finalized.

This publication is also available in Spanish.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.