Legal guardianship and adoption share several characteristics that make them seem similar. It's perhaps why many people confuse them. While both involve taking over the responsibility to care for a child and provide a stable environment for their growth, they are two...
A public adoption allows you to add a new child to your family, but it takes commitment and investment. You have to connect with the right child and be in a position to commit to their care. Not everyone who wants to adopt even qualifies under California rules. There...
There are many ways that children can enter into our lives. Children can be an endless source of joy. They have endless amounts of energy, an amazing capacity for unconditional love and creativity. Children are truly miraculous. Along with happiness, children also...
Having blended families can come with challenges and rewards that are hard to imagine until one finds themselves in the role of a stepparent. Many times, stepparents and stepchildren develop a parent-child role that inspires stepparents to initiate the adoption...
If you're planning to take a child into your home through the private adoption process, then you're likely well aware that the child's biological parents must first relinquish their parental rights before you can do so. Each state is unique in its handling of this...
When you marry into a family with children, a time may come when you want to formalize your parental relationship with your spouse’s kids. Stepparent adoptions in California are not as hard as other adoptions, but you will still be required to follow the state’s...
The best thing about being a grandparent is usually that you get all of the joy of having a child in your life without the same degree of obligation that comes with parenthood. Unfortunately, circumstances can arise that will leave adult children unable to care for...
When it comes to custody, care and visitation of young children in California, usually the focus is on the children's parents. However, other people in the children's lives, like their grandparents, may also lay claim to an interest in time with the children and may...
For many pregnant women, the adoption of their infant is the best way to ensure that the child will have a loving and caring childhood. While it is typically a difficult decision to make, mothers who consent to adoption are acting in the best interests of the child....
If you are a family friend or a relative concerned about the welfare of a child that you have a close relationship with, you may be interested in pursuing emergency guardianship of that child. Guardianship and adoption often fall within the same legal area because...
