Adopting the child of a spouse
The spouse of a person who had a child before marriage may adopt that child. This form of adoption is common when a person marries a parent whose child has been abandoned by the other parent.
The legal process for adopting the child of a spouse in these circumstances may be fairly straightforward and relatively easy. The legal process is usually easier where the natural parent of the child has abandoned the child, is not known or does not oppose to the adoption.
In such case, the parent and the spouse make a joint application to the court asking that the court authorizes that the child will be adopted by the couple. The court will order an assessment of the family and the presiding judge may speak to the parties involved. If the court is convinced that this is in the interest of the family the court will approve the adoption.
