Gay and Lesbian Adoption

Gay and Lesbian Adoption

New Jersey Adoption Attorney for Same-Sex Couples

New Jersey is one of the friendliest states for gay and lesbian couple adoptions in the entire country. The state was the first to specify that sexual orientation and marital status cannot be used to discriminate against couples who are seeking to adopt. New Jersey allows second-parent adoptions, which is a legal process by which a co-parent can adopt the biological or adopted child of his or her partner regardless of marital status. If you are a same-sex couple or a gay or lesbian individual who is looking to expand your family through adoption, do not hesitate to contact a New Jersey Adoption Attorney Pine & Steinberg, LLC.

Work with Pine & Steinberg, LLC to determine which type of adoption may be right for you:

Single (Individual) Adoption — Individual adoption is the traditional type of adoption in which a person seeks to adopt a child who has been made available for adoption by the birth parent(s) or by the state.

Joint Adoption — In a joint adoption, a couple petitions the court to adopt a child who has been made available for adoption by the birth parents(s) or by the state.

Second-Parent Adoption, or Co-Parent Adoption — Second-parent adoption involves one parent who already has legal rights to the child and a second parent who is petitioning for joint parental rights. The initial parent does not give up his or her parental rights. This type of adoption often occurs when one partner has already adopted a child and the other partner later wants to adopt the same child. Adoptions by co-parents also frequently include domestic partners and births through artificial reproductive technology. In cases involving artificial insemination, it is important to legalize the parental relationship in order to give the non-birth parent the same rights as the birth parent or to transfer parental rights completely.

Begin the Adoption Process Today

It is important for a co-parent to officially adopt his or her child, even if the co-parent is already in a civil union with or legally married to the child's parent. While many states will recognize and honor a New Jersey civil union or same-sex marriage, the parental rights may be dismissed in other states without a legal adoption. This process is also necessary if the co-parent wants to be listed on a birth certificate. A co-parent should officially adopt his or her child to ensure that their parental relationship is valid no matter where in the United States they may travel. For more information, contact Pine & Steinberg, LLC today and schedule an adoption consultation with the firm.

Contact Us Today

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Hear From Our Clients

At Pine & Steinberg, LLC, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    "Grateful for exceptional service!"
    Lauri Steinberg and her assistant, Jenifer DaCosta, surpassed expectations in guiding our adoption journey. This remarkable team not only navigated the complexities with ease but also demonstrated patience and support with our many questions and concerns, particularly in working with the NJ Department of Children and Families. I wholeheartedly recommend Lauri and Jenifer for their compassionate and highly skilled approach to adoption law. We are truly grateful for their exceptional service.
    - Carl Kaye
    "Jenifer is amazing!"
    I emailed Jenifer out of the blue one day 4 years ago when I needed to do a second parent adoption. Jenifer was so personable and professional and handled our adoption so smoothly. When I gave birth to our second son, my wife needed to adopt him, and we reached out to Jenifer again. Again, a quick and smooth process! We are so happy with Pine and Steinberg!
    - Megg
    "Couldn't have imagined a better experience!!"
    Can't say enough good things about this practice and the incredible experience we had adopting our son! Jenifer DaCosta, the office paralegal, was always so kind and helpful and incredibly accommodating and it made the waiting and preceding days (and weeks!) so much easier! As for our attorney, Lauri Steinberg, her friendly, yet professional nature made for the most wonderful day in court! We couldn’t have imagined that day being any more relaxed and joyful and it is a day we will remember forever! Lauri put us immediately at ease and felt just like part of our big, happy family! We truly do appreciate you all!
    - Jason Becker
    "AMAZING!!!"
    It was such a joy & pleasure working with the staff of Pine & Steinberg! Jenifer was AMAZING & was always very informative & responded very quickly no matter the time of day or the question at hand. Laurie was so friendly & was very efficient as well. This entire staff made our adoption day & all that it entailed such a smooth, seamless & enjoyable one! I would HIGHLY recommend Pine & Steinberg to ANYONE who needs an attorney!! Thank you for an AMAZING experience!!!
    - Christopher D. Jones
    "Jenifer goes above and beyond!"
    We adopted our son out of foster care which was quite a long and emotional journey getting to this point. Thankfully once Jenifer stepped in she made everything smooth, easy, and most importantly- fast! She was prompt to respond to phone calls and emails from us, answered any question we could think of, and kept us in the loop with the status of our paperwork. She even helped us post adoption with figuring out to how update everything with our sons new name. I couldn't have asked for a better adoption experience and we are forever grateful for her role in bringing our son home!
    - Kellsi B.