Adoption

[rekall]

Hi guys

I'm wanting to adopt my girlfriend's daughters. Their biological father died 5 years ago.

Does anyone know how to go about this? Google has landed me with some pretty vague answers and was hoping that someone in the forum perhaps has some personal experience with it.

Thanks in advance

 

[Thor]

Are you planning to marry her?

 

[rekall]

At some point yes.

 

[HashiraMadara]

That's a pretty big decision there

 

[rekall]

Adoption or marriage?

Married or not I'm not planning on going anywhere and want to make sure the kids are taken care of

 

[Binary_Bark]

At some point yes.

Then you would become legal guardian.
You are not looking to adopt, as the children do have a living and participating parent.
You are looking at becoming a guardian

 

[rekall]

So if we get married then I automatically become legal guardian?

 

[Binary_Bark]

So if we get married then I automatically become legal guardian?

Yes

 

[rekall]

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!

 

[Binary_Bark]

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!

Just make sure it’s in the marriage contract. Then you are settled

 

[bwana]

Then you would become legal guardian.
You are not looking to adopt, as the children do have a living and participating parent.
You are looking at becoming a guardian

Children can still be adopted by spouses or "life partners" even if the child has a living parent or even parents.


A child may be adopted -
18.
Adoption of children
(a) (b) (c) (d)

• by a husband and his wife jointly;
• by a widower or widow or unmarried or divorced person;
• by a married person whose spouse is the parent of the child.
• by the natural father of a child born out of wedlock. [Para. (d) added by s. 3 of Act 56/98]

Child Care Act, 1983 (Act No. 74 of 1983)

 

[pinball wizard]

Then you would become legal guardian.
You are not looking to adopt, as the children do have a living and participating parent.
You are looking at becoming a guardian

Of course he can adopt the kids. I met wife number one when she already had a 18 month old girl. A while after the marriage, I adopted her, and it's as if she is biologically mine, as in she got a new birth certificate and everything, I hold all the rights and responsibilities as a natural parent, not a legal guardian.

 

[spagHettie]

You'll have to contact a social worker. Marrying someone doesn't automatically give you legal rights over their child. Depending on where you go (which agency or whatever) it can be quite a costly process.

 

[pinball wizard]

You'll have to contact a social worker. Marrying someone doesn't automatically give you legal rights over their child. Depending on where you go (which agency or whatever) it can be quite a costly process.

You can go through the state social worker. Wont cost you a cent.