Yes, stepparent adoptions are recognized by state laws. Generally, a stepparent can adopt his or her spouse’s children as long as they have resided with the minor child for a certain period of time. For example, Alabama’s adoption scheme requires stepparents to reside with the children for one year before approving such adoptions.

• Does a biological father have the right to notification that his child may be placed for adoption by the child’s mother?
• What age restrictions are imposed on prospective adoptive parents?
• What expenses do adoptive parents pay to the birth mother?
• Can prospective adoptive parents advertise that they wish to adopt a child?
• Can adoption agencies consider the race of the adoptive parents or children when making decisions?
• What is a foreign adoption?
• What is the court or judge’s role in the adoption process?
• What information does an adoption agency consider when determining whether to place a child with prospective adoptive parents?
• Can birth mothers withdraw consent to an adoption?
• Who must consent to an adoption?
• What methods of adoptions are there?
• What is adoption?
• If you think you are the father of a child, but you are not married and the mother refuses to let you see the baby, is there anything you can do?
• If you are a pregnant and unmarried woman, and the father refuses to acknowledge paternity, what can you do?
• Can courts modify child support obligations?
• What happens if a person refuses to pay child support?
• How does a court determine the amount of child support?
• Can a court require a parent to pay child support?
• Can grandparents have visitation rights?
• What if one parent refuses another parent’s visitation rights?