Can same-sex partners together adopt a child in Rhode Island?

Though the question of joint adoption by an unmarried couple is not addressed expressly by the Rhode Island statutes on adoption or by any authoritative ruling by the State Supreme Court, joint and second parent adoptions have routinely been granted at the Family Court level.  Feel free to contact GLAD for more information, or if you encounter any difficulties.  Also, with the advent of marriage and civil unions in Rhode Island, a married or civil union couple can do a step-parent adoption.

What is the difference between joint, second-parent (also known as co-parent) and single-parent adoptions?

A joint adoption is when both partners adopt a child together at the same time. A second-parent adoption is when one partner adopts the other partner’s child. A single-parent adoption is when a single individual adopts a child. All three of these are legal in Rhode Island.

What is the advantage of doing a second-parent or joint adoption?

Sowohl gemeinsame Adoptionen als auch Stiefkindadoptionen gewährleisten, dass Ihr Kind zwei rechtliche Eltern hat, was allen Beteiligten oft mehr Geborgenheit und Sicherheit bietet. Abhängig von Ihrer familiären Situation kann es sein, dass ohne Adoption nicht beide Partner als rechtliche Eltern anerkannt werden. In diesen Fällen benötigt der nicht rechtliche Elternteil eine Sondergenehmigung, um medizinische Entscheidungen für das Kind zu treffen oder an Schulveranstaltungen teilzunehmen. Zudem besteht die Gefahr, dass er das Sorgerecht verliert, wenn sich das Paar trennt.

Durch die Adoption wird ein nicht-rechtlicher Elternteil zum rechtlichen Elternteil und kann ohne besondere Genehmigung Entscheidungen für das Kind treffen. Außerdem erhält der Adoptivelternteil automatisch das Sorgerecht für das Kind, wenn sein Partner verstirbt. Ebenso hat das Kind im Todesfall des Adoptivelternteils Anspruch auf dessen Erbe, auch ohne Testament, und kann möglicherweise Hinterbliebenenleistungen der Sozialversicherung beziehen.

Und schließlich stellt die Adoption im Falle einer Trennung des Paares sicher, dass beide Elternteile das Sorge- und Besuchsrecht haben und dass etwaige Streitigkeiten im Interesse des Kindes entschieden werden und nicht danach, wer der rechtliche Elternteil ist.

Do we need to do a second-parent adoption if we are married?

When a child is born into a marriage, Rhode Island law and the law of all states, presumes that both spouses are the parents of the child and both names are listed on the child’s birth certificate. However, this is only a presumption and can be challenged in court, so in the past GLAD recommended that married couples do a second-parent adoption to ensure the parentage of the non-biological parent because adoption is a court judgment creating a parent-child relationship and must be respected by other states.

Now Rhode Island couples have a second way to protect the parentage of the non-biological partner by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage.

If I am a parent who has signed a VAP, do I also need to do a second parent adoption?

No. A parent who has signed a VAP should not need to do a co-parent adoption to establish parentage. A VAP establishes legal parentage under state law, is the equivalent of a judgment of parentage under state law and gives you all the rights and duties of a parent. Under federal law, an Acknowledgement of Parentage is the equivalent of a judicial decree of parentage and should be recognized in all states.

Since expanded access to acknowledgments of parentage is an emerging development, some parents might feel more comfortable also completing a second parent adoption in addition to or instead of a VAP. To understand what is best for your family, individualized legal advice is recommended.

Short of second-parent adoption, how can a family protect the interests of the child vis-à-vis their non-legal parent?

There are a number of steps that can be taken, although none offer the security of a second parent adoption.

  1. Vereinbarung zur gemeinsamen Elternschaft: Eine Vereinbarung zur gemeinsamen Elternschaft ist eine Vereinbarung, die die Erwartungen der Eltern hinsichtlich der Rollen des anderen und ihrer Pläne im Falle einer Trennung, Behinderung oder des Todes festlegt. Obwohl diese Vereinbarungen von den Gerichten nicht immer in vollem Umfang anerkannt werden, da diese Sorgerechts- und Besuchsentscheidungen im Interesse des Kindes treffen müssen, sind sie wichtige Indikatoren dafür, was das Paar geglaubt war im besten Interesse des Kindes und kann die endgültige Entscheidung eines Gerichts beeinflussen.
  2. Testamente: The legal parent may nominate a guardian of the child upon the parent’s death (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-15.1-7). These wishes are given strong preferences by courts. Of course, if the child has another legal parent living, then that person would have priority over the nominated guardian.
  3. Power of Attorney and Temporary Guardianship: This document is signed by the parent and authorizes another person (the attorney-in-fact and temporary guardian) to make a wide variety of decisions and arrangements for the child, including matters related to school, medical care and finances.
  4. Co-guardianship: While there is no express provision in the law allowing for appointment of co-guardians, and although the practice varies to some degree across the State, some probate courts allow a parent to name the other non-legal parent as a co-guardian so that the other parent may secure medical attention for the child and act as a parent (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-15.1-5). This status is not permanent, and may be terminated by a court (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-15-18 (“The court shall remove any…guardian…upon finding that the [guardian] has not fulfilled, or is no longer able to fulfill, the duties of the appointment as set forth by the order itself and/or the limited guardianship and guardianship law.”)).