Adult adoption is a legal process where one adult adopts another adult. Unlike the more common form of adoption involving children, adult adoption typically occurs when there is a desire to establish a legal parent-child relationship between consenting adults. The reasons for adult adoption can vary, and some common scenarios include:
Parent-Child Relationship: Adults may choose to formalize an existing parent-child relationship through adoption. This could be a step-parent adopting a stepchild or someone who has acted as a parental figure.
Inheritance and Succession: Adult adoption can be used as a means to ensure inheritance and succession rights, allowing an individual to legally pass on assets, property, or benefits to the adopted adult.
Emotional and Supportive Relationships: In cases where a strong emotional and supportive relationship exists between two adults, they may choose to solidify their bond through adult adoption.
Estate Planning: Adults may consider adult adoption as part of their estate planning strategy to facilitate the transfer of assets and provide legal recognition of a chosen heir.
Adult adoption is a legal process that involves court proceedings, and upon completion, the adopted adult gains the legal rights and responsibilities of a biological child, including inheritance rights. In California, consent of the biological parents is not usually required. However, the spouse of the adopting parent(s) and the spouse of the adoptee must consent. Adoption typically severs the parental rights of the biological parents, but in an adult adoption, the adoptee may waive the termination of rights and therefore maintain those parental rights of their biological parent(s). After the adoption is finalized, the adoptee can choose to have a new birth certificate issued with the adopting parent’s name(s) listed. Adult adoptees can also legally change their name as part of the adoption process.
Lauren Bates handles adult adoptions in all California counties, including Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba.