Second-Parent and Same-Sex Adoptions
Amid the new frontier of marriage equality and the solid confirmation of LGBTQ rights by the courts, it goes without saying that same-sex couples deserve the same opportunities to expand their families through adoption.
At the top-tier New York adoption firm, the Law Offices of Clifford L. Greenberg, Cliff’s knowledge of evolving statutes gained through more than 25 years of adoption experience can benefit same-sex couples in all five boroughs and beyond.
Clifford L. Greenberg, Esq., is the skilled and compassionate lawyer leading the adoption practice. Throughout the legal process, Mr. Greenberg will guide you through same-sex adoption procedures that proactively address decision-making, custody, visitation, and a child’s right to financial support.
Step-Parent Adoption
When a biological parent remarries, families often want the new spouse to adopt the child. If the other biological parent consents, the process is typically more straightforward. If consent is not given, legal action may be required to terminate parental rights, thereby legally freeing the child for adoption. If your stepchild’s biological parent is no longer alive, you may become the child’s legal parent through a fairly straightforward legal process.
If the biological parent is alive, that parent must surrender parental rights, including custody and visitation. They would also be released from the obligation to pay child support.
If the biological parent is unwilling to surrender parental rights, the matter must be litigated in Family or Surrogate’s Court as part of the adoption process.
If the child is 14 years of age or older, the child must consent to the adoption. These principles form the cornerstone of New York stepparent adoption law. The firm you choose should understand these statutes and how to pursue every available legal avenue, and we do.
Hague Process
Immediate Relative Petition
Orphan Process
Used when adopting from a country that is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention, which provides safeguards to protect children, birth parents, and adoptive parents.
Orphan Process
Immediate Relative Petition
Orphan Process
Used for adoptions from non-Hague countries. Restrictions apply, including that at least one parent must meet the child before filing, and the petition must be filed before the child’s 16th birthday.
Immediate Relative Petition
Immediate Relative Petition
Immediate Relative Petition
Available in limited circumstances when neither of the above processes applies, provided specific legal requirements are met.
Adult Adoption
While most adoptions involve children under 18, New York law places no age limit on adoption. There are many reasons individuals or families may pursue adult adoption.
In some cases, adults with physical or mental limitations may benefit from adoption. In others, adults wish to formalize long-standing parent-child relationships that were never legally recognized.
We assist with adult adoptions involving:
- Mental or physical incapacity
- Foster child adoption after age 18
- Recognition of close family relationships
We have handled more than 4,000 adoptions and understand that no two families are the same. When you contact Mr. Greenberg, you can feel confident knowing he will guide you through the legal system with your loved one’s best interests in mind.
Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status
Children who are undocumented or out of status may receive significant benefits through Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status. To qualify, a court must issue specific findings, known as “Special Findings”, which allow the child to apply for SIJ status through USCIS. These findings are often requested in adoption or guardianship proceedings, and Cliff Greenberg can manage the entire legal process on your behalf. The SIJ program assists children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. SIJ status allows the child to remain in the United States legally and, in many cases, be adopted by a U.S. citizen guardian or relative.