Q. My stepdaughter just turned 18. We wanted to do a stepparent adoption, but her  father wouldn’t permit it. She doesn’t get along with her father (it’s a long story) and now that she’s 18, we heard that we can do an “adult adoption” without his permission. Can we do this? How would we do it? Fred A. Adult adoption is possible. In fact, it’s a pretty common question here at the law library—so much so that we created a step-by-step guide called “Adult Adoption in California” with instructions and sample forms. An adult adoption is when someone adopts a person who is 18 or over and not related to them. It changes the legal rights of both of you, and severs the existing relationship with

As a former victim of domestic violence I have experienced a bias within the juvenile court system. The victims are often penalized and have there families destroyed and children removed from their loving homes. To worsen the matter victims are then placed on the Central Index , which is national, making it impossible to work with children. Children ripped away from their homes are in my opinion, subjected to Radical Attachment Disorder as the bonds between siblings and other immediate family members are broken over the course of months or years making it much easier for them to be adopted out. Victims of domestic violence are ordered to go to classes and counseling that I feel are in con