Do You Need an Attorney in order to Adopt your Stepchild?

Adopting a stepchild in California can be a relatively easy process. If there’s one really challenging aspect to stepparent adoption, it’s most likely going to be obtaining consent from the absent parent. You might be nervous about contacting your child’s absent parent. Maybe you haven’t seen that parent in years and are afraid of the response you might get. Maybe you’re certain the absent parent will refuse to consent. All of the fears are common and understandable, and the main reason why you should consider working with an attorney to process your stepparent adoption. When you work with us, you won’t have to deal with the absent parent. We will do this for you. Our offices are experts in working with absent parents, many times obtaining consent from the most ardent refusals. In the alternative, we always explore the real possibility of getting a court order to terminate the absent parent’s rights so your stepparent adoption can go forward. We would be happy to talk with you about your situation and how we might help. Call our offices for a 15-minute complementary consultation. And visit our Stepparent Adoption page for more information and FAQs.

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About Megan Cohen, Adoption Attorney

(Attorney) is one of the only adoption attorneys in the country who is also a birth mother. Admitted to the bar in January 2010, Megan began working with Diane that same year and made partner by 2011. She took over the firm in 2013 and has since received Super Lawyers’ Northern California Rising Star award in 2013 and 2014. Megan graduated magna cum laude and first in her class from law school where she earned multiple awards for academic excellence. As a law student, she worked for three years as an advocate for victims of domestic violence. Prior to studying law, Megan was both a successful small business owner and a high school English teacher. Her passion for adoption began when she placed her son for adoption in 1988. She continues to have an open relationship with her adopted son and his parents, and has intimate knowledge of what it means to place a child, to choose the child’s parents, and to both stay connected and reunite with the adopting family.