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24/7/365 Emergency Hotline: 631-348-1702

If you have been arrested, or in case of an emergency, our attorneys can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 631-348-1702.

Adult Adoption Is A Growing Trend

In New York State, an individual may adopt a person over the age of 18. This grants the person over the age of 18, the legal treatment of a biological child. Adult adoption often occurs for the purpose of establishing legal rights, including inheritance or recognizing a parent-child relationship. New York State does not have strict laws governing who is eligible to adopt as well as who is eligible to be adopted. For instance, in certain states, an adoptee must be a minimum of 10 years younger than the adopter. New York State only requires that the adoptee agrees to the adoption.

adult adoption lawyerIn New York State, an individual may adopt a person over the age of 18. This grants the person over the age of 18, the legal treatment of a biological child. Adult adoption often occurs for the purpose of establishing legal rights, including inheritance or recognizing a parent-child relationship. New York State does not have strict laws governing who is eligible to adopt as well as who is eligible to be adopted. For instance, in certain states, an adoptee must be a minimum of 10 years younger than the adopter. New York State only requires that the adoptee agrees to the adoption.

While adult adoption is becoming more common, it remains a difficult process. However, there are many reasons why individuals choose this path, such as having a stepparent adopt them after years of caring for them. Some individuals wish to adopt an adult in order to confer certain legal privileges to the child for purposes of inheritance that a non-relative may not be entitled to. In addition to inheritance, there are certain health care benefits that an adopted child may be entitled to through insurance.

In order to obtain an adult adoption in New York, an individual must file a petition for adoption with the Family Court or Surrogate’s Court, depending on the county. An adoptee must provide his or her consent to the adoption. Once the judge in the Family Court or Surrogate’s Court approves the adoption, a formal court order of adoption will be signed and granted. A birth certificate for the adopted person will be issued and all previous parental ties are severed.

While adult adoption may be beneficial for insurance, legal, or estate planning reasons, it is permanent and will entitle an individual to all benefits another child would receive. Overturning an adoption is complex and very difficult, which is why it is important to discuss your options with an experienced attorney.

While an adult adoption may seem like a simple process, it can be complex and lead to unintended consequences if it is not properly thought-out. If you require assistance with an adult adoption, speak to an experienced family lawyer who may provide some insight into the process.

If you have questions regarding adult adoption or another family law matter, contact the Suffolk County family law attorneys of McGuire & Peláez, PC. Ms. Peláez has practiced daily in the family court for more than 10 years as private and Court appointed counsel, and she will zealously fight for your rights as a parent. Contact our Long Island family law firm at (631) 348-1702.

18 thoughts on “Adult Adoption Is A Growing Trend”

  1. My adult step-son [age 52] lives in New York/Manhattan. I live in Florida. I would like to adopt my step-son for estate management purposes. Can I adopt my step-son if I am NOT A NEW YORK RESIDENT and do not intend to become a NY resident? Thank You!

  2. I’m looking to adopt my 26 year old stepdaughter. She’s agreed to it but now need help with the process. She’s not sure if she’s ready to change her last name yet, but hopefully will down the road. I’m coming into a VERY large amount of money soon (minimum 3 million) and I want to make sure that she’s protected, when or if the end arrives. She’s as much my daughter as my other 3 children. Any help you can help will be greatly appreciated.

  3. I am 28 and looking to have my step-father adopt me. We both are in agreement and I would like to change my last name in regards to carry on the name of the family that raised me. What would this entail and how long May the process be. Can it be expedited?

  4. I’ve a question that’s need to be answered and on the web site I was looking for it. I couldn’t find it so I thought to write to you instead and hopefully you can help me out. My mom and her family are from Dushore, Pa and the man my mom married isn’t/wasn’t my father. He is on my birth certificate and our blood types don’t match. When my mom and him split up/ divorced .He sent/gave me away to a family from New York State and this family raised me since then. This was a verbal agreement and never went through the courts. I’m an adult now and my mom and her family are all dead and gone. So is the man who married my mom and the family who raised me did ask him if they could adopt me. I guess he said no and he believed I was his kid. Here’s my question” Can an adult be adopted?” This is something I really want and if it is possible how much will it cost? I’m poor and don’t have a lot of money. The family who raised me don’t have the money either and we both have been through a lot. I cant call them mom and dad because they aren’t my parents. I want them to be and how can you help me? I’ll take all the advice I can right now to make my dreams come true. Thank you for listening and please get back to me.

  5. Can my son keep the last name he currently has or hyphenate it if my husband adopts my son?
    He is now adult and wants my husband to adopt him, but we are very close to my ex in laws who have nothing to do with my ex husband.
    Being the first grandson carrying on the last name is important to his grandparents and to us. Is that an option?

  6. I am 30 years old and would like to give my step father the option to adopt me as his legal son. I do not wish to change my name, nor am I looking for any inheritance. I just want him to know that, in my eyes, he is my father. What do I need to do.

  7. Dear Sir
    A US couple want to adopt a Austrian Citizen
    18 years old in order to add his aristcratic name to theirs ! Please inform if this can be done ! The adopted do not want to become
    US citizen. kindly ingorm at your earliest convenience
    Best regards Gottfried

    1. It sounds as though your situation is somewhat unique. However, this is not the sort of matter that can be handled easily through a blog comment, and you may wish to speak to a lawyer to consult directly about potential issues related to adult adoptions. Please give us a call at 631-348-1702 or visit our contact page for a consultation.

    1. This depends on a number of factors, including how accurately and completely you filled out your paperwork, whether there are any legal complexities that need to be sorted out, and how many cases the court is dealing with. Many cases, for example, have faced substantially delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

      That said, you should expect your case to take a minimum of two to three months, assuming all goes well. If there are delays with the court or any legal problems that arise, it could take significantly longer.

  8. Can a New York resident adopt their adult nephew who is resident in another country in order for them to become resident in New York?

    1. It is potentially possible to adopt an adult relative from a foreign country. However, the primary benefit to this is for inheritance purposes, and is unlikely to help much with the immigration process. Unfortunately, our firm does not really handle immigration matters, and you should consult with an attorney specializing in immigration to learn more about potential options you may have.

  9. I’m hoping to embrace my 26 year old stepdaughter. She’s consented to it yet presently need assistance with the interaction. She doesn’t know whether she’s prepared to change her last name yet, yet ideally will not too far off. I’m coming into a VERY enormous measure of cash soon (least 3 million) and I need to ensure that she’s secured, when or on the other hand assuming the end shows up. She’s as much my little girl as my other 3 youngsters. Any assist you with canning assist will with being incredibly valuable.
    See also here

  10. It helped when you said that there is an adult option for the legal rights to create. A friend of mine mentioned to me last night that they are looking for an adoption attorney that could help them through the legal process as they are planning to adopt a child. Thanks to this informative article, I’ll tell him that it will be much better if they consult a trusted adoption attorney as they can provide more information about the process.

  11. Does adult adoption require notification of the adoptee’s biological parents? The information I picked up from my local Family Court is the same packet they use for Private Placement and it contains a for for Notice of Adoption which appears it would be sent to the biological/legal parents of the adoptee.

  12. I am 62 and both of my parents are deceased. We never had a particularly close relationship. After the passing of my 90 year old mother in 2023, I grew to resent her and I think that I actually hate her. My closest blood relative is my sister. She couldn’t care less about me. I’m just dying to have someone that I can truly call family. My neighbors across the street are the kindest and sweetest people you could ever meet. Deep in my heart, I really love them. They have looked out for me so much and have been so caring, especially spirituality.
    I seek nothing from these people financially. I would just love to be able to truly call them my mom and dad. Nothing more. Is this possible or even realistic?

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Jayne Furia
Jayne Furia
1711289355
Always helpful for the tickets I’ve had, came in on a Sunday when it was closed and took on my case. Very nice lawyer (Chris) who’s respectful and great at what he does.
Super professional and helped me with my traffic ticket. Highly recommended for any issue. Thank you!
Dominic Piccolo
Dominic Piccolo
1711114725
Everyone in this law firm was outstanding. Everyone was so helpful and kind. The lady at the front desk was phenomenal. They made everything easy and simple. I will continue to come back to them if needed in the future.
Jayovani
Jayovani
1711058090
Got me no points when I was stopped apparently going 85 in a 50 by state police. I recommend Mr. McGuire for traffic court for sure.
Christine Jorge
Christine Jorge
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I recently had the pleasure of working with Chris McGuire, and I can confidently say that he exceeded all expectations. From the moment I set up a consultation with him, I was impressed by his attentiveness and genuine concern for my situation. Chris took the time to listen to all of my concerns and made me feel truly heard, which immediately put me at ease.Throughout our discussions, Chris demonstrated a remarkable level of honesty and transparency. He didn't sugarcoat anything; instead, he provided me with a thorough understanding of all possible outcomes, ensuring that I was well-informed every step of the way.I am incredibly pleased with how everything turned out, and I credit Chris for his dedication and expertise. He exemplifies what every attorney should strive to be – compassionate, knowledgeable, and committed to achieving the best possible outcome for their clients.Without hesitation, I would turn to Chris McGuire and his staff for any future legal needs. I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in search of exceptional legal representation. Thank you, Chris, for your outstanding work
Linsay T
Linsay T
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They were absolutely great! My insurance didn't go through to the DMV properly so I got pulled over & the cop was a jerk. Wrote me a bunch of unnecessary tickets. I was really struggling financially as well & couldn't miss work over this, so they were so kind to work out an arrangement with me. Very thankful for this group of lawyers
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Mr. McGuire was extremely honest with the consultation and that was well appreciated. I felt comfortable and would recommend them to anyone who would benefit from their services.
Cesar Garcia
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Chris is an excellent lawyer. He is very kind and helpful. He helped me with my son’s traffic case. I would recommend him a million times and more.
For me, the best lawyers in Long Island, New York, have helped me resolve two cases, one related to traffic and the other in real estate. I am very pleased with McGuire Peláez & Bennett PC.
Jenrry Giron
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They were so Kind and very helpful.
I was able to visit the office today where they attended with courtesy and they made me feel very comfortable. I am extremely grateful for their help. Whoever needs help with any situation I would recommend them! They are attentive and helpful.
d gonzo
d gonzo
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This is the most helpful law office I've ever dealt with. Through the past few years they have handled traffic citations for each of my teen boys, who are otherwise good drivers but unfortunately experienced mishaps. In every case they were responsive and effective and have saved us significant money by working with the court to reduce or eliminate penalties and points. Highly recommended.
Great help. Chris really helped me understand what needed to be done. Thank you guys!
Muy buenos abogados
Danilo Ramos
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They are very helpful, and honest
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Absolutely professional and efficient when handling my case.
Buen abogado gracias ayudarme a remover mi multa
Marie Tossaint
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Karen was Very helpful and kind. she's the best! I would recommend them to anyone & everyone!
Louis Merced
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Trust this law firm !
Very nice, quickly assisted, great response from everyone working here.
Marvin Sanchez
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Mr.Bennett and his team helped me when i needed them the most. Amazing work!
marvin deleon
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Very helpful firm and people. McGuire has helped me a lot! Very thankful for this firm.
Fatima Amaya
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The best thing I could see done was to do things legally and they are excellent and super professional, their assistants are very kind and helpful. I thank them for everything and that they have resolved my case with professionalism.
Troy Brinkhuis
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1706111589
Just Stop It!! Stop searching the Internet for a good lawyer to handle your traffic tickets. M, P & B are the best, so look no further. No, I am not a friggin cheerleader, nor am I being compensated to write a good review. Actually, I did receive something from Mr. Bennett and his team of professionals: Great Results!! I'm just a 50 something years-old Army veteran, and a guy who busts his a$$ every day to make a modest living. I don't have the time or money for mediocre results. When it comes to lawyers, I tend to be a bit skeptical, cynical and judgemental, but M, P & B (Mr. Bennett and his team, in particular) made me a believer. Thanks again, guys and gals at McGuire, Palaez & Bennett 👍👍
Brandon Morales
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I’m very happy with the outcome of my case since all was reduced to parking tickets and a small fine. They were super helpful and the work from my end was minimal. Overall good people and kind to customers, attorney Bennet did a really good job in court.
Jaime Mendez
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Muy profesional ala hora de trabajarGracias Mr pelaez
Excelente atención y solución eficaz, recomendado al 100%
Tereza ramirez
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Son muy buenos ami pues me ayudaron mucho asi que con gusto volveré en el futuro digo si Dios me lo permite gracias
Debbie Gangemi
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Christopher was great to work with. His staff was friendly and efficient as well. Chris spent endless hours ( even while away ) on a case and worked through everything for me. We would definitely recommend his firm. Thank you again.
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Jhoselyn Rodas
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Mr. McGuire and his team are super helpful, understanding, and professional throughout the process. They kept me informed every step of the way, which I appreciated! I highly recommend this law firm! Thank you so much Mr. McGuire!
Pete Sweat
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I hired Brett and his team to help restore my license which was suspended/revoked for years due to points/accidents. Fairly priced… after trying to take care of it on my own (paying fines and taking classes) I hired Brett, they did everything they could even after I moved from NY to FL, everyone who I spoke to was very helpful ESPECIALLY Daslin, she told me everything I needed to do and calmed me down when I thought I’d never get my license. Well it took some time but I am officially a LICENSED DRIVER! If you are having license problems don’t hesitate to call them, you won’t regret it. They even sent me my $100 money order back that went unused after my license was restored. 5 ⭐️’s
Kathy Mai
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We are very grateful that we got Mr. McGuire to represent us for our case! Mr. McGuire is extremely helpful and professional, he stayed on top of everything for us, and most importantly he helped us to achieve the result that we wanted. Mr. McGuire always open to talk and provided his professional opinions to guide us through the whole process. And his colleague Mr. Sorell was also helpful to support us at the final meeting. I can't say enough good things about Mr. McGuire and his firm, I really appreciated everything they have done for us, thank you very much!
rcassidy1952
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McGuire and his team done an outstanding job. Highly recommend!
Walter Vespe
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Mr McGuire has been our family lawyer for over 20 years. Mr McGuire has help my family from estate concerns to handling serious charges. His experience and knowledge of the law is second to none. I would Highly recommend
Tara Maddalena
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Amazing law firm!!! They get it done. My husband and I have used Chris McGuire for different legal issues and he has been consistently wonderful. We recommend highly to all who have legal needs.
Sandy Niehr
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McGuire, Pelaez & Bennett are great attorney’s who really cares about their client. Their fee is reasonable when I compared to other lawyers in the area. They are very knowledgeable and professional. Was always able to reach them and communicate with them whenever I had a concern. I highly recommend this law firm. Friendly staff too.
I appreciate the great customer service as well as the big help from everyone in the office. I would highly recommend them to any of my friends and family!
Jasmin Garcia
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They are the best lawyers ever! Highly recommend them. Super friendly and knowledgeable.
Jonathan Reyes
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Excellente trabajo me ayudaron con mi Caso!!
Mario M Gomez
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Aurelio Marin
Aurelio Marin
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Excellent work. My 8 point ticket was dismissed. Chris & Dawkins are very helpful and nice.
McGuire, Pelaez and Bennett they were professional helpful was able to go to Mr McGuire when I felt uncomfortable very attentive. Nice pens too
wilis villalta
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Cometí un error y ellos me ayudaron a resolverlo
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Una oficina demasiado buena el señor Bennett es excelente y honesto
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