Many married couples have children from prior marriages. Often, the stepparent of the children acts as the children's real parent. Naturally, the Stepparent in this situation frequently would like to make the situation permanent and become the children's legal parent....
As a stepparent who would like to adopt your stepchild, it can be a complicated situation. If the child's two biological parents don't agree, then there may be little you can do to help an adoption move forward. However, if you can show that the biological father or...
If adopting in Tennessee is your goal, then you should know the requirements and how they affect your situation. Tennessee requires that adoptive and foster parents are at least 21 years of age. If you meet that requirement, then you can start your application. Once...
Growing your family may be a goal you've had for many years, and now, you want to see it come to fruition. In Tennessee, you can adopt through an adoption agency or attorney. There are a few basic things to know about adoption within the state. First, if you wish to...
There are few people who need love and care more than children who don't have families to turn to. Yes, they end up in foster care and are under the protection of the state, but that isn't always a permanent or a loving situation. Children in difficult situations need...
There are plenty of myths about adoptions that should be debunked. Children who are waiting for adoptive parents already struggle to find homes, but the bias these myths create makes it harder to find families. Myths start because of a few situations that are not...
Many years ago, almost every adoption was of the closed variety. This means there is no future contact between the child and the birthparents after the adoption process comes to an end. However, open adoptions are becoming more and more common today. If you're...
As a stepparent, there may come a point when you think about adopting your spouse's child. While this sounds like a straightforward process, it's important to realize that there are some challenges that could stand in your way. Above all else, remember this: Adopting...
There is no denying the fact that moving forward with adoption is sure to change your life in a number of ways. While this is something you are looking forward to, it's important that you know exactly what you should and shouldn't be doing as the big day closes in....
If you are considering fostering or adoption as a means of growing your family, it's important to know what's expected of you as you embark on this journey. In the state of Tennessee, there are many licensing requirements that you should become familiar with. By...
