The attorneys of Jerner & Palmer, P.C. have considerable experience helping clients realize their dream of adopting a child through domestic adoption and international adoption, including kinship adoption, private placement adoption and adoption of foster children.
Our attorneys have also assisted more than 200 same-sex couples to secure parental rights for non-biological parents through a legal process known as second-parent adoption.
Because adoption procedures vary widely from state to state and county to county, it is critical to choose a law firm with the depth of experience necessary to anticipate and resolve issues as they arise. Jerner & Palmer, P.C. offers experienced representation at affordable rates for adoptions and second-parent adoptions in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Second-Parent Adoption:
Second-parent adoption is the adoption of a child by the partner of a biological parent or a legal parent (in the case where one parent has previously completed a single-parent adoption of the child). A second-parent adoption allows a second parent to adopt a child without the "first parent" losing any parental rights.
Beware attorneys who may try to sell pre-birth order services to lesbian couples where the woman who is pregnant with the child is the child’s biological mother. When one woman is pregnant with a child conceived using her own egg, her partner may not obtain legal parental rights using a process known as "pre-birth order." In Pennsylvania, second-parent adoption is the only way to secure legal rights for a non-biological mother.
Adoptive parents have the same rights as biological parents and final adoption decrees are recognized in every state. Second-parent adoption is not allowed in all states, but is available in all counties in Pennsylvania. Second-parent adoption creates a legal parent-child relationship with the second parent, bringing with it hundreds of rights and benefits including inheritance, custody, child support and medical decision-making. One of the most important financial benefits of completing a second-parent adoption is ensuring that your child is able to receive social security survivor benefits from either parent in the event of a death of the parent. Without a second-parent adoption, the child is only eligible for these benefits from the biological parent. These benefits could be thousands of dollars per month until the child turns 18.
A Pennsylvania Supreme Court case in 2002 made the right of second-parent adoption available statewide. See In Re: Adoption of R.B.F. & R.C.F. You can read the opinion of the Court here.
To learn more information about second-parent adoption, such as cost, timing and the process, read an interview with Attorney Tiffany Palmer here.
As of 2011, if you complete a second-parent adoption, you may be able to deduct eligible costs of that adoption from your tax liability through the adoption tax credit. Expenses that qualify for the adoption credit are all reasonable adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, home study fees, traveling expenses, and other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of a child. For many individuals, if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $185,210, the entire cost of your adoption may be refunded to you through the credit. Consult your tax adviser or see IRS Form 8839 for more information about the adoption tax credit and to determine if you are eligible.
For more information call us at (215)843-6000 or at (856)817-6030 or fill out our Contact Form.
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