Gay and Lesbian Adoption
New Jersey Adoption Attorney for Same-Sex Couples
New Jersey is one of the friendliest states for gay and lesbian couple
adoptions in the entire country. The state was the first to specify that
sexual orientation and marital status cannot be used to discriminate against
couples who are seeking to adopt. New Jersey allows second-parent adoptions,
which is a legal process by which a
co-parent can adopt the biological or adopted child of his or her partner regardless
of marital status. If you are a same-sex couple or a gay or lesbian individual
who is looking to expand your family through adoption, do not hesitate
to contact a
New Jersey Adoption Attorney Pine & Steinberg, LLC.
Work with Pine & Steinberg, LLC to determine which type of adoption
may be right for you:
Single (Individual) Adoption — Individual adoption is the traditional type of adoption in which
a person seeks to adopt a child who has been made available for adoption
by the birth parent(s) or by the state.
Joint Adoption — In a joint adoption, a couple petitions the court to adopt a child
who has been made available for adoption by the birth parents(s) or by
the state.
Second-Parent Adoption, or Co-Parent Adoption — Second-parent adoption involves one parent who already has legal
rights to the child and a second parent who is petitioning for joint parental
rights. The initial parent does not give up his or her parental rights.
This type of adoption often occurs when one partner has already adopted
a child and the other partner later wants to adopt the same child. Adoptions
by co-parents also frequently include
domestic partners and births through
artificial reproductive technology. In cases involving artificial insemination, it is important to legalize
the parental relationship in order to give the non-birth parent the same
rights as the birth parent or to transfer parental rights completely.
Begin the Adoption Process Today
It is important for a co-parent to officially adopt his or her child, even
if the co-parent is already in a civil union with or legally married to
the child's parent. While many states will recognize and honor a New
Jersey civil union or same-sex marriage, the parental rights may be dismissed
in other states without a legal adoption. This process is also necessary
if the co-parent wants to be listed on a birth certificate. A co-parent
should officially adopt his or her child to ensure that their parental
relationship is valid no matter where in the United States they may travel.
For more information,
contact Pine & Steinberg, LLC today and schedule an adoption consultation with the firm.