Adopting a step-child
Many people who have the care and responsibility of raising a step-child may want to formalise their commitment. Adoption brings together adults and children from different families and creates one legal family unit.
Step-parent adoption is a legal process for a step-parent to become the permanent adoptive parent of his or her spouse's child. Adoption permanently severs the legal relationship between the child and his or her non-custodial birth parents and their family.
The assessment can only start if:
- the step-parent is eligible to apply to adopt the child
- the non-custodial parent/s consents to the child's proposed adoption by the step-parent, or the need for that parent/s consent is dispensed with by the Childrens Court of Queensland.
Eligibility
A child's step-parent is eligible to apply to adopt the child if:
- the person is an adult who lives in Queensland and is an Australian citizen (or the spouse of an Australian citizen)
- the person lives with the child and spouse and has done so for at least 3 years
- the person has been granted leave by the Family Court of Australia under the Family Law Act 1975 (Commonwealth) to start adoption proceedings
- the child is at least 5 years old and not more than 17 years old. Applications may be accepted in relation to a child who has turned 17 but is not yet 18 in some circumstances (see below).
Note: a de facto spouse who is the same sex as his or her partner is not eligible to apply to adopt his or her partner's child.
Applications for a child who has turned 17
Applications for a child who is 17 years of age may be accepted if the step-parent can show there is enough time to complete the adoption process before the child turns 18.
This includes demonstrating there is enough time for:
- the step-parent's eligibility to be decided
- prescribed information and pre-consent counselling to be provided to:
- any parent whose consent to the child's adoption is required
- the child being adopted (only if the child is old enough to understand and express their view)
- the 30 day period in which a parent can revoke consent to the child's proposed adoption to expire, or
- the step-parent to apply to the Childrens Court of Queensland (where applicable), for the need for a parent's consent to be dispensed with, to serve notice on the relevant parent of the application and for the Court to hear the matter
- information required to inform the assessment of the step-parent's suitability to adopt the child to be obtained, including the step-parent's criminal and domestic violence history, traffic history and information from the Queensland Police Service
- the home study assessment to be undertaken and a report of the assessment findings to be prepared
- the step-parent to make an application for a final adoption order, and for the Childrens Court of Queensland to hear the matter.
How to apply
A step-parent seeking to adopt a step-child must complete the Application to Adopt a Step-Child form available from Adoption Services Queensland.
Assessment of the application
Applications are carefully assessed as serious consequences result when an adoption order is made. The assessment considers a range of matters including the significance of the child's non-custodial parents and family. Required information for the assessment may include:
- criminal and domestic violence history checks
- a home visit for assessment interviews
- talking with you, your spouse, children and nominated referees
- getting information about your health.
Before the application can be assessed, consent from the child’s non-custodial parents must be obtained. If it’s not possible to get the consent of each of the child's parents, the application can only be assessed if:
- Adoption Services Queensland receives new information showing the parent wishes to give consent, or confirms the parent's identity or the whereabouts, or
- the step-parent makes an application to the Childrens Court of Queensland for an order to dispense with the need for the consent of the parents.
After consent is obtained, the step-parent can pay the required assessment fee. The step-parent's suitability to adopt the step-child can then be assessed.
If the step-parent’s suitability is approved, we will:
- prepare a suitability report for the Childrens Court of Queensland
- provide them with a copy of the suitability report.
More information
More information on adopting a step-child is available from Adoption Services Queensland.
