RELATIVE ADOPTIONS
- Sometimes a child is adopted by his/her grandparent,
aunt, uncle, or adult sibling. This is preferred by birthparents who want to
keep the child within the family.
- Steps to complete a relative adoption include:
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- (1) Consent to Adoption is signed by the birthmother
and legal father. If birthparents refuse to sign or cannot be found, a
Petition for Adoption may be filed in court and a Citation to Show Cause
served upon them.
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- (2) Petition for Adoption is prepared and the adoptive
parents must sign the Petition. An adoptee over the age of 14 must consent in
writing to his/her adoption. The adoption process may include the change of
name for the child.
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- (3) Petition for Adoption is then filed in Circuit
Court. Copies of the papers are sent to Oregon Department of Human Services
(DHS). A Criminal Records and Child Protective Services background clearance
is completed on all adults residing in the household. Assuming that no
criminal record is discovered, a Waiver of Homestudy will be filed by the
Department of Human Services. If something of serious concern appears on the
record, DHS may require a homestudy to be completed on the adoptive family.
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- (4) If parental consents cannot be obtained, a court
hearing to show cause why the adoption should not be granted will be
scheduled. Papers must be personally served upon the parents. If this is not
possible, the court, upon showing reasonable effort has been made, will allow
service by publication in a newspaper with a circulation in the area of the
birthparent’s last known residence. If the birthparent(s) does not appear,
his/her rights are terminated by default. If he/she does appear, the result
will depend on the circumstances of the case.
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- (5) After the Waiver of Homestudy has been filed by
DHS, the Decree of Adoption is submitted to the court. Adoptive parents have
the choice of having the court mail the signed Decree of Adoption, or
requesting a Decree Signing Ceremony in the court.
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- After the Decree is signed, you will receive a new
Birth Certificate from the state where the adoptee was born. It will show the
adoptive parents as the legal parents of the child, with the name now chosen
for the child.
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