Growing Your Family Through Adoption With An Indianapolis Adoption Attorney

Countless families choose to adopt for a wide variety of reasons. Adoption can be a beautiful and highly rewarding experience, but there are several legal and financial hurdles to overcome before and after you bring your new family member home. With professional support, however, you can complete this process more efficiently and painlessly than you could imagine.

At Frangos Legal, LLC, our Indianapolis adult and child adoption attorney, David C. Frangos, possesses an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the Indiana adoption process. We are honored to handle the legal complexities of adoption, so you can focus on what matters most: bringing your new family member home as soon as possible.

Comprehensive Adoption Guidance For Your Family

Frangos Legal, LLC, has represented many different types of families with varying adoption goals. No matter your unique situation, our team can counsel and represent you with a steadfast commitment to your rights and your child’s well-being. Every step of the way, we can explain the adoption process, assist you with all required documentation and advocate for you in court.

We can help you if you are:

• Bringing a new family member into your home
• Adopting a grandchild, niece, nephew or other relative
• Looking for the right home for your child
• Adopting your stepchild

Contrary to popular belief, stepparent adoption is one of the most common forms of adoption in the U.S. This may occur if a child’s biological parent has passed away or is no longer involved in their upbringing. If the child’s other parent remarries, the stepparent may wish to become their “official parent” and adopt their stepchild. Once a child is legally adopted, they have the same rights as a biological child, including rights to inheritance and parental support in the event of a divorce.

Why Do Indiana Families Choose Adult Adoption?

From estate planning purposes to long-term care assistance, there are many legal reasons to adopt an adult child in Indiana. Some of these include:

• Legalizing inheritance rights so the adoptee can inherit their adopted parents’ estate without being related to them
• To better provide caregiving to adults who have physical or mental health challenges
• To legally become a family after bonding during foster care or the introduction of a stepparent
• For adoptees to reunite with their birth families
• For adoptees to gain health or other benefits from their adoptive parents
• To allow an older sibling to take on the role of parent for a younger sibling

At Frangos Legal, LLC, our adoption lawyer has assisted countless families with adult adoptions in Indiana. We can help you through all stages of the process as well as provide advice and counsel when needed to ensure your adult adoption runs smoothly. Fortunately, the process is fairly straightforward in our state. This is because once someone reaches the age of 18, they no longer need the consent of their biological parents to be adopted, among other reasons.

Terminating Parental Rights For Purposes Of Adoption

In cases such as stepparent adoption, the biological parent’s rights must be formally terminated. This process is easiest when the biological parent agrees. It may be more challenging if the parent does not agree or cannot be found.

In either case, this can be an incredibly emotional process for everyone involved. Ultimately, the court will need to assess the situation and make a final decision. The court will generally disregard a biological parent’s desire to maintain parental rights if the parent abandoned the child or was abusive. When a court terminates parental rights, the biological parent no longer:

• Needs to pay child support (except for what was already owed)
• Has custody or visitation rights over the child
• Has decision-making authority over the child

We can help you navigate this complex legal terrain. Our compassionate legal team provides empathetic support as you handle this sensitive and emotionally taxing process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adoptions In Indiana

Adoption raises a lot of concerns, and each family’s situation is unique. Below are answers to some of the most common questions Indiana families ask about the adoption process.

What happens at an Indiana adoption hearing, what will the judge ask?

An uncontested adoption hearing in Indiana typically takes 30 minutes or less, depending on the county court docket. A judge reviews the petition, confirms legal compliance and officially finalizes the adoption. During the hearing, the judge will generally ask about:

• Your relationship to the child
• Your understanding of the legal responsibilities of adoptive parenthood
• Whether the child (if 14 or older) consents to the adoption
• Whether you have completed required background checks and the home study
• Whether anyone has objections to the adoption

Once the judge reviews your answers, the court issues the final adoption decree, making your child a full legal member of your family.

Can we do a stepparent adoption if we are not married yet (or just got married)?

Indiana law requires the stepparent to be legally married to the child’s biological parent before filing for adoption. If you are not yet married, you will need to wait until after the marriage to begin the process.

If you are recently married, you can start right away. Indiana does not require couples to wait a set period after the wedding before filing. The court will still review the relationship, the child’s best interests and the biological parent’s current legal standing before granting the adoption.

Can an older sibling adopt a younger sibling in Indiana (including adult adoption options)?

Yes, an older sibling can adopt a younger sibling in Indiana. The process and requirements differ depending on whether the younger sibling is a minor or an adult.

For minor adoptions, the older sibling must be at least 18 and complete a home study, among other requirements. For adult adoptions, the process is more straightforward. Once the younger sibling turns 18, they can consent to the adoption independently, as parental rights end at adulthood. Adult sibling adoptions often serve to formalize a caregiving arrangement or establish legal inheritance rights.

Consult An Experienced Indianapolis Adoption Lawyer Today

When you retain Frangos Legal, LLC, you can trust us to take time to learn about your family and situation. Our goal is to ensure the adoption proceeding is as efficient as possible and provides the legal foundations your adopted family member needs. To get started, you can schedule an initial consultation by calling 317-348-2150 or by sending us a message through our website.