Adopting an Adult
adult adoption n. The adoption of a person over the age of majority (as defined in State law).
Adult adoption was quite a common occurrence during the ancient/classical periods to carry on a dynasty, occupation, or family name; to care for a parent in old age; or to protect property rights. Today, however, there are three main reasons people pursue the adoption of an adult person.
- Inheritance. This is the most common reason for adult adoption, creating a parent-child relationship that will be legally recognized so that the adopted person can inherit from the adoptive parent(s).
- Formalizing a parent-child relationship. When a previous stepparent-stepchild, foster parent-foster child, or informal parent-child relationship existed, the adult parties may want to formalize the relationship through adoption.
- Perpetual Care. If the person to be adopted is of diminished capacity or abilities, adoption may provide a means of assuring him/her of lifetime care under family insurance, as a legal family member, or through inheritance.
Changes Effected by Adoption
In the same manner as child adoption, the adoption of an adult will result in changes.
- Severing parental relationships. An adoption creates a new parent-child relationship and severs the existing relationship with biological parents (or with the non-custodial biological parent only, in the case of stepparent adult adoption).
- New birth certificate. An amended birth certificate will be issued for the adopted person, showing the adoptive parent(s) as birth parents.
- Name change. The surname (last name) of the adopted person may be changed to that of the adoptive parent(s).
- Sealed records. Adoption records for adult adoptions appear to be treated the same as those for child adoptions in that the records pertaining to the adoption will be sealed according to state law, even though the parties to the adoption are adults and are aware of family details. If this is a matter of concern, parties to the adoption should keep copies of all documents relating to the adoption itself and life events prior to the adoption for safekeeping.
Note: If the only purpose for considering an adult adoption is to change the name of the person to be adopted, name changes are relatively simple procedures and can be done without severing parental rights of existing parents.
Governed by State Law Adult adoption is handled differently in all states. Some state statutes only provide for adult adoption if the person to be adopted is of diminished capacity. Some states require the consent of the spouse of the person to be adopted (if married), some require notification of biological parent(s), and some require nothing more than the consent of the adult parties.
Check state laws on adult adoption here.
More: Adult Adoption, from the Encyclopedia of Adoption Information in this article refers to domestic U.S. adult adoption. For information on the adoption of an adult non-U.S. citizen, contact an immigration specialist. Information in this article does not constitute, and is not a substitute for, legal advice.© Nancy S Ashe
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Comments
Ello,
My name is Lameesha I am a 18 year old girl living in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my Mom & sister.
I grew up (poorly) with 3 brothers, 1 sister, a ill mom who tried her best, and a dad who was barely there.
We also grew up poor without many of the basic luxuries.
We moved alot, never had a car and barely had enough money to pay attention.
I'm not saying the situation was a complete shame, after all it's responsible in my intelligence, it is what it is.
I suffer from PTSD and Depression, I mention this because these two illnesses are almost imperative in my situation.
I've had many attempts of suicide (starting since I was 7 when my mom& dad were fighting & increasing after my dad left) I need to be adopted. I need the family I never had. My family suffers from mental illnesses as well, almost all of them are untreated or the treatment started so recently it's as if there isn't any.
I'm not getting the support I need to survive and be successful in life. (I've left the house a couple of times and have even gone through emancipation, though that's not the problem the lack of love & support is!) The environment I live in makes my PTSD hard to manage. The apartment we're in is very cramped & unclean , & my mom's schizophrenia doesn't help the situation at all. I feel too scared too function half the time not knowing when mania will break out, My whole life I had to be a grown up with no structure, rules or even support. I feel like I can't follow through with any plans, especially school, i dropped out at 16, this year is supposed to be my senior year. I've decided to get my GED and start up college in January with fear I can't follow through with even this. I'm not looking for pity, I'm looking for love and support, I'm looking to be adopted. I just want to be a TEEN! If you're interested in adopting, please contact me. Which you can do on here or through meagrl14@yahoo.com
Posted by: mamamea at 09/12/2009 03:47 PM
Hi there,
I am a 39 yr old from Ireland. I would like to adopt a dad, my dad died a few months ago and to be honest I feel a bit lost. My Mum died when I was only 24, I feel too young to have lost both my parents, I would love to be able to adopt a dad.
Maybe a couple with no children of their own, retirement age and looking for a family, I am well educated and have four fantastic children who now have no grandparents.
If you like a daughter and four fantastic grandchildren ( and two GG children) then do get in touch.
Posted by: adoptadad at 06/16/2009 09:37 AM
Hi my name is A.Halik
I was born in South East Asia Bali, but now I am living in Hawaii USA. I have been away from my family since I was a child because of pursuing my education. My Father passed away when I was 7 and now I am 26 years old and my mother has not supported me of what I want in life to be a Nurse. My mother still single since my father passed away, and she lives in Bali now and I live in USA for almost 7 years. I have been out of my family since I was teenager and never had any loves from my parents or family whom I hoped they could give me love and support. Now that I am an adult 26 years old, Asian, Hispanic looking, black hair, slim, brown skin, honest, hard working person and masculine, 5.4” tall, I look much younger than my age, I more look like 18 years old (photo is available) and away from my family, I have my will to find a NEW parents who can give me love and support of my dream job working in the hospital as a nurse or doctor.
Currently I am finishing my prerequisites for my nursing major at Hawaii pacific University and I will be in the program as soon as next year. I am currently working part time as a tech support/data entry, file organizer and more for an older lady that has so many computer problems. And I am also volunteering at the hospital for almost a year and half. I also do craft sell online and so far I am doing pretty good on selling, I am a quite busy person.
My Dream is to find new parents who can give me Love as an their own biological son, and from the bottom of my heart and swear to God that I will give my heart to them and all my love and support, and When I finish my education, that’s the time when I repay back the love that they’d have given to me and I promise I will take care of them all their lives just the way the son do for their parents. I was born in Asian family and I’d like to have non-Asian family Please It is because I want to give a full attention to my complete new family (completely new form of family).
If my information doesn’t really bather you please and please,,, email me (ahalik378@gmail.com) I ‘d like to come home and say “ Hey Mom, hey dad, did you all have a good day today?” ….. Godddd I really miss that …
When I see my friends with their parents, I always have tears in my eyes to think that I wish I have a parent who can love me like my friend has… for example last year when I had my graduation of my Associate Degree in science, all of my friends parent were there, and I was the only one that has no parents giving me a hug or love... my tears in my eyes now is flooding. God… God.. God.. help me to find a parent who love me Please please please. I can definitely send my picture if you want.. As you can see I wrote a long description because I know how important having a parent and their love to me.
I can’t wait to get any responses, you will see how much parents love can change me to be the best in anyway, and I will never ever pay that love but giving the love back to them and more. I promise you I will do anything to make my new parents happy, I will be the best son of all. I Promise you won’t be disappointed.
“ Mom and dad…please pick me up” (ahalik378@gmail.com) My picture is available up on request.
HALIK
Posted by: needparentslove at 06/13/2009 07:59 PM
Hi, my name is Ashley Pierson and I am a 18 year old girl whose desperately seeking someone to adopt me. I am from Roosevelt , NY in Nassau County Long Island. I am a very smart girl whose just looking for a family to love me. Please get in contact with me asap. 516 710 8947 or email me at Ashbo069@tmail.com
Posted by: Ashbo069 at 04/24/2009 10:00 AM
Hi.
I am 42 years old Asian-American Woman, looking for a loving, compassionate family.
Grew up by a single parent with 3 other siblings as a youngest, lost father in very early in childhood. After immigrated to U.S. with family when I was teenager then lost mother after several years later at 18. Ever since lost a selfless, caring, intelligent, loving, gifted mother who I adore and missed, have trouble feeling sense of family of love, belonging, and caring. I've been on my own ever since I lost my mother. I educated myself, went to college, worked all my life and built my career. I've tried to be strong ever since but somehow until this day, I have trouble having missing loving family which I longing for long time.
Having biological siblings didn't help me probably because of their lack of understanding, lack of love, difference of education, difference of influence of two different cultures even though they have financially established on their own because of their own struggles. So I've decided to search of my own to have a loving compassionate family.
I am artistically somewhat talented, love of life, love nature, love to explore great things in life but I need sense of belonging to loving supportive, compassionate family. I am not a religious person but I pray daily, spiritual because of influence from my mother who was a baptist and knowing that their is a god who would guide me right path of life with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. So if you are loving, compassionate family who would like to adopt me as a loving daughter, would like to hear from you. "Foot Print"
Posted by: dzyerlove2 at 04/19/2009 09:35 AM
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