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What You Need to Know About Grandparent Adoptions

Are you a grandparent acting in the role of parents? Is your grandchild living with you? Are you raising your grandchild as if they were your own child? Do you want to adopt your grandchild to give him/her permanency? If yes, then you need to know the following:

You can file a petition for an Orlando grandparent adoption in the circuit court where you and the grandchild have lived for the last 6 months. You must be willing to financially support the child. You must be willing to make the child part of your own family. You will be financially responsible for the child as if they were your own child until the child is 18 years of age.

Will the parents sign a voluntary waiver of their parental rights? If the parents will sign an acknowledgement of the voluntary surrender of their parental rights, you may file the pleading for the adoption with the voluntary surrenders. You would then be able to proceed to a final hearing.

If the parents will not agree to voluntary surrender their parental rights, then you must serve them with the adoption paperwork. They have 20 days to answer the petition for adoption. If they fail to answer the petition for adoption after 20 days, you can move for a default judgment. First you would get a clerk’s default, then you would make a motion for default judgment by the court. You would set the case for final hearing. At the final hearing you would present a prima facie case by clear and convincing evidence as to why the parents’ rights should be terminated. You can do this by showing that they have totally abandoned their child, or that they have not had any substantial meaningful contact with the child.

Many biological parents may have had no contact with their child for several years. Many biological parents have neither communicated with their child by phone, nor email, nor text. They have abandoned the child. They may not have paid child support for many years. They may not have given the child any presents or in kind gifts.

Besides, abandonment, you would also allege if the parents are drug users, and because of their drug use they are unable to care for the child. They may have neglected or abused the child. You would allege all that also. The parents may be serving lengthy prison terms. You would allege that too.

If you have more questions regarding Orlando grandparent adoptions, you can call Ann Marie Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P. A. at 407-732-7620 for an initial consultation.

This information is provided only as educational materials, and does not constitute the providing of legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship.