In Nebraska, for a stepparent adoption to be successfully granted by the Court, the most important concept to understand is consent. The non-custodial birth parent (that is, the birth parent who the child does not live with) must consent to the stepparent adoption. Other parties must also give their consent depending on whether the birth parents were married and later divorced, whether paternity was established on the birth father, or whether a guardianship was granted.
Stepparent adoptions are very common and can be (for the most part) pretty straightforward depending on the case. Each case is unique and brings its own setbacks and challenges. The most time-consuming part of a stepparent adoption is locating the non-custodial birth parent and obtaining that birth parent’s consent to the stepparent adoption.
If you do not know the location of the non-custodial birth parent (which is often the case when the birth parents have not seen or spoken to each other in a very long time), there are legal ways to proceed with the stepparent adoption.
Adopting your stepchild has many advantages, not only for you but for your stepchild as well. One such advantage is that your stepchild will be able to inherit from your estate when you pass away. Another major advantage is that you will become that child’s legal parent and be able to make decisions regarding his/her care and custody.
It is highly recommended that you consult with an adoption attorney if you have been thinking about adopting your stepchild and have more questions about the process or if you are ready to start the process now.
Ready to start your DIY Nebraska stepparent adoption? Grab your Nebraska stepparent adoption forms here.