Stepparent Adoptions

A Place for Peaceful Solutions

Southern California Adoptions
An adoption terminates the parental rights of the biological parent and creates a new legal parent child-relationship with the adoptive parents. A new birth certificate is issued, and all rights of the biological parent are revoked. Unlike guardianships, an adoption is permanent, and eliminates the biological parents' rights to that child.

The adopting parents have the discretion of choosing a Closed Adoption or Open Adoption. In a closed adoption, there is no contact between the biological parents and the child. In an open adoption, the adoptive parents may allow limited contact or more substantive relationship as deemed appropriate.

Stepparent adoptions
Current California law requires that a couple be married for 12 months before a stepparent adoption petition may be filed. However, it may be wise to begin the process sooner if the biological parent is opposed to the adoption. In such a case, the biological parent's rights may need to be terminated in a court action. The current basis for termination of parental rights is Abandonment, which is based upon the parent's failure to communicate and or support the child for a period of 12 consecutive months.

Agency Adoptions
In cases when children have been removed from parental control by the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) the parental rights of the biological parent may be terminated by the court, freeing the child for adoption. Ms. Williams' serves on the dependency court panel, and is often appointed to represent prospective adoptive parents.

Serving individuals in the Orange County area, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Tustin, Westminster, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Aliso Viejo

Law Office of Judith A. Williams
Center for Mediated Divorce
20 Corporate Park, Suite 175
Irvine, California 92606
Phone: (714) 973-7917
Fax: (714) 973-8462
E-mail: Contact Us