We’ve often said that every adoption journey is different — and some may be more different than others. Consider the case of biological parents who decide to adopt their own biological children. This is not one of the most statistically common forms of adoption, but sometimes it can be just the right solution.
Termination of parental rights
Adoption always involves termination of one or both parents’ rights to be parents. The former legal parents are replaced by new legal parents. The adoptive parents become the new legal parents, and the former parents are not longer in a parental relationship at all.
As it happens, adoption can sometimes be the easiest and most efficient way to do this.
Terminating parental rights can involve showing that a parent does not have a relationship with a child, or that the relationship is damaging to the child. It can be a lengthy, difficult, and even painful process. In such cases, adopting your own biological child may be a better choice than a lengthy and messy custody case.
It can be the safest way to achieve termination of parental rights in some cases.
Complicated cases
There can also be cases in which legal questions may arise. For example, same-sex couples can now adopt children in Arkansas, but may not want to undertake the stepparent adoption route. In a case in which both parents have a role in the child’s life but neither is clearly a stepparent, a private adoption may provide greater clarity.
Your situation
Your situation may not be the same as the ones we’ve described. It may be quite different. Fortunately, over the years, Heimer Law has helped adoptive parents in so many different situations that the chances are very good that we have experience with a situation similar to what you are experiencing. We can help you navigate your own particular adoption journey, even if it seems to you that you are facing something very unusual.
If you’ve thought — maybe I need to adopt my own biological child? Maybe you do. We will be happy to talk with you about your situation.
Inquiry Form