On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Friday, December 18, 2015.
Congratulations on your decision to adopt a child. Adoption can be a stressful process, but the end result is a beautiful family with a bond that cannot be severed. Whether you are adopting a child within your own state, somewhere else in the country, or an entirely different country, you will need to check your local state laws to insure that your paper-trail has been completed correctly. Like most adoptive parents, you probably have an abundance of questions. If you are a same-sex couple who are married or in a domestic partnership, you might have concerns about Missouri’s laws governing LGBT adoptions.
Not long ago, same-sex adoptions were nearly unheard of. Couples who wanted to be parents had to make huge sacrifices, such as relocating to another state or jumping through major hoops in order to adopt a child. Though marriage between LGBT partners is now legal on the federal level, people within the community still wonder about the legality of same-sex adoptions in Missouri.
There is great news for same-sex couples who are citizens of this state and are eager to expand their family by way of adoption: there is no explicit prohibition barring an LGBT couple from adopting. Singles are also permitted to petition for adoption, and your partner has a legal right to petition to adopt your child from a previous relationship.
If you are hoping to adopt within the state of Missouri and would like more information on the process or legal aspects, speaking to an experienced attorney might be beneficial.
