Can my husband and I adopt my 13 year old sister who lives in Jamaica?
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Can my husband and I adopt my 13 year old sister who lives in Jamaica?
Asked on November 30, 2012 under Family Law, Maryland
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You will need an international adoption attorney to help you go through the quagmire of international laws regarding adoption, transferring parental rights. If she currently has your parents as her parents, they would either need to be willing to terminate rights, transfer guardianship while adoption paperwork is processed or a combination thereof. This is not impossible but it may be complicated.
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
The only way you and your spouse can legally adopt your minor sister is if she is an orphan or if one of her parents is willing to sign adoption papers allowing the adoption where a parent relinquishes his or her parental rights to the child confirmed via a court order. Given the matter that you have written about I suggest that you consult with a family law attorney.
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