Let's Talk About Adoption

Law Offices of Kat Delgado is dedicated to families, which come in all shapes and sizes. If your family is growing as a result of adoption, let me help you through the legal process and celebrate your growing family with you. 

In family law, related adoptions are the most common and occur when one or both of the adoptive parents are related to the child. LGBTQ couples and those struggling with infertility often need to utilize this type of adoption to formalize the legal relationship between parents and children This also occurs in stepparent and second parent adoptions. In that situation,  both the parent and the stepparent or co-parent must file a petition and the new spouse of the biological parent becomes the legal parent of the child, stepping into the shoes of the biological parent. This type of adoption should be straightforward, but there are a few issues that frequently come up, which require an experienced attorney.  

Co-Parent Adoptions, also known as “Second-Parent Adoptions” are when two unmarried individuals become the legal parents of a child. In a majority of these cases, one of the petitioners is already the parent or related to the child.  Unfortunately not all counties in Illinois will authorize a co-parent adoption and those in need of co-parent adoptions should strongly consider filing in the Cook County court. If one petitioner is already related to the child then the adoption will proceed normally as a related adoption. 

Other types of adoptions that occur that are less common may involve the Department of Children and Family Services or other agencies, and require a detailed understanding of the various steps required. It is important to consult with an experienced attorney to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. 

If you're ready to talk about adoption, contact my office to schedule your free 15 minute phone call today.