Adult Adoption

Under What Circumstances Would You Consider an Adult Adoption?

For some an adult adoption might seem silly, I mean, after all, if you truly love this person, then that is all that really matters, right. So why bother with a piece of paper to legalize it all. Well, there are several reasons why you might want to formalize such a relationship.

Advantages of Adult Adoption for the Adoptee

1.

Unless you were previously adopted by them, then you would not qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act because you are not a legal guardian to the person who has been injured.

2. If someone was to leave money (life insurance, for example) to you and you were NOT a family member, the life insurance company can make it very difficult for you to claim the money. I won’t tell you that it can’t be done, but generally, it’s nothing but a big hassle.

Advantages of Adult Adoption for the Adopting Parent

1. "Next of Kin" yet another good reason why it may be necessary to formalize an adult adoption. If you were to experience a tragic accident, and unless the adoption is of legal standing, any of your wishes to the person named, are given absolutely no weight - even if no other "next of kin" can be found. That would simply mean that some social worker or judge would be making life-altering decisions for you.

Here’s a typical situation I recently came across, I was not directly involved or anything, but it is interesting and somewhat unjust.

An elderly woman (90 years old), and a middle-aged gentleman shared a place. They were not lovers, but he was her caretaker in exchange for rent. This lasted for about 15-20 years.

Her family did not pay her much attention, for example, during Thanksgiving, rather than take her to the restaurant with them, they just brought her a “to go box” of food. They couldn’t be bothered to do anything more than that with her.

Anyway, she later passed on, and willed her home to the caretaker gentleman because he had cared for her (physically, emotionally etc.), so much more than anyone else in her family ever had. The family then had the will overturned, so that the caretaker received nothing for taking care of her for all those years.

It wasn’t as if he did it just so that he would get the house, but it would have been nice if they had respected her wishes.

Now, if she had of adopted him years earlier, the judge probably would not have overturned the decision and would have given him the house.

2. An adult person with special needs often needs a guardian to represent them in the social aid system or to navigate the social services system.

What About Reclaiming Family?

Sometimes two people simply want to legalize a relationship that they define as parental in nature. Reunited first parents and their now adult children who were previously adopted by others sometimes find themselves in this situation.

Some Requirements

In most cases, an adult adoption does not require a home study. There are no giving up of parental rights or consent by the current parents needed. Your biological parents do not have to agree or sign anything, however, you must sign in agreement to the adoption.

Find out where you can get the necessary forms for adult adoption. And they are cheap too!

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