When beginning your stepparent adoption journey you are going to be introduced to a whole host of terms that you may, or may not be familiar with. Below are some of the most commonly used terms, as well as their abbreviations if applicable, when dealing with stepparent adoption.

Adoptee- This is the term, which is used for a person who has been adopted. Once your stepchild has been adopted, he or she becomes an adoptee.

Adoptive Stepparent -The stepparent who has legally adopted his or her stepchild.

Biological Parent- A parent who is genetically related to the child

Consent- when a NCP allows a stepparent adoption to occur and willingly signs over his or her parental rights.

Contest- When a NCP does not agree to a stepparent adoption, and is actively fighting the case.

Custodial Parent (CP)- The parent who has physical custody of the child

Custody- Whomever has the child in his or her possession has custody of the child. The divorce decree will state which parent has legal custody of the child, meaning which parent will have the child in his or her home more than the other parent.

Divorce Decree - A legal document outlining the conditions and specifications of the dissolution of a marriage.

Full Custody- Full custody gives the parent full legal say over the child. The NCP can appeal decisions made by the custodial parent, but the courts are going to favor the parent who has ‘won’ full custody of the child.

Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)- An attorney who is appointed to represent the best interest of the child. Some states require that a GAL be hired in order to complete a stepparent adoption.

Joint Custody- Both parents share an equal legal say in the raising of the child, however when combined in custody orders with ‘primary’ or ‘residential’ custody, such as joint legal custody, with the mother having primary custody of the child, the parent with either of those will have more say in the eyes of the law.

Non-Custodial Parent (NCP)- The parent with whom the child does not reside with full time.

Primary Custody/ Primary Caregiver- These terms are occasionally used in lieu of the term full custody. The parent with primary custody, or who is defined as the child’s primary caregiver has more legal say over the child than the other parent, and has the child in his or her possession more so than the other parent.

Public Notice- When a NCP cannot be located, a notice explaining the impending adoption is published in the newspaper for an extended period of time, giving the NCP time to see and respond to the notice, either consenting, or contesting the adoption. IF the NCP does not respond to the notice within the allotted time period the adoption proceedings will move forward as though he or she consented to the adoption.

Stepchild- A child from a previous relationship whom is not related to the spouse of his or her biological parent.

Stepparent- The spouse of a parent whom has children from a previous relationship

Supervised Visitation- When the courts feel that severing the relationship between the NCP and the child would be harmful, but the child would not be safe alone with the NCP, supervised visitation can be ordered. The NCP can still visit with his or her child, but under the supervision of a court appointed individual for the safety of the child.

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)- The legal act of severing the parent child relationship. Once a parent terminates his or her parental rights to a child, he or she becomes a legal stranger to the child, having absolutely no say in that child’s life from that point forward. A NCP must have his or her parental rights terminated, either willingly, or forcibly by the courts, before a stepparent adoption can take place.

Visitation- When the child goes to see his or her NCP for short, or extended periods of time.


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