As a second parent, adopting a child is one of the most meaningful decisions you will make in your lifetime. Second parent adoption is available to same-sex couples who have a child with a current legal connection to one parent. Second parent adoption occurs when the non-biological parent decides to legally adopt the child without any loss of parental rights to the biological parent.
If you are seeking information about second parent adoption laws in Albuquerque, New Mexico, family law attorney Dorene A. Kuffer can help. She is a foremost expert in gay rights and adoption law and has helped many same-sex couples maneuver through the second parent adoption process.
About Gay Adoption Laws in New Mexico
In Albuquerque, second parent adoption law allows the non-biological parent to petition for adoption. This process benefits from the attention of not only an adoption attorney, but also an attorney who is uniquely experienced with second parent adoption laws and gay and lesbian issues in New Mexico. Dorene Kuffer can help you understand the second parent adoption process, including:
- Petitioning the court;
- Understanding the home study process; and
- Processing required court paperwork needed throughout the case.
A domestic partnership agreement between the two parents is also recommended to address parenting issues in the event of death or dissolution of the relationship. This protects both parents and the best interests of your children so that child custody issues don’t wind up being litigated in the courts. Additionally, parties are encouraged to draft wills and powers of attorney to provide for their children should both parents die.
Contact a Family Law Attorney in Albuquerque, NM
Dorene Kuffer has extensive experience advocating for second parent same sex adoption and gay and lesbian relationships. She understands the nuances of family law as it relates to alternative families and is able to offer assistance in any type of GLBT family issue, including divorce, child custody and domestic violence. Contact our family law office today to get the legal advice and representation you need for same sex adoption in New Mexico.