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?

Tou de adopsyon konjwen ak adopsyon pa yon dezyèm paran asire ke pitit ou a gen de paran legal, sa ki souvan bay plis konfò ak sekirite pou tout moun ki enplike. Tou depan de sitiyasyon familyal patikilye ou a, lalwa ka pa rekonèt tou de patnè yo kòm paran legal san yon adopsyon. Nan ka sa yo, paran ki pa legal la bezwen pèmisyon espesyal pou pran desizyon medikal pou timoun nan oswa pou patisipe nan reyinyon lekòl yo, epi li riske pèdi gad legal la si koup la separe.

Adopsyon pèmèt yon paran ki pa legal vin yon paran legal, ki gen dwa pran desizyon pou timoun nan san otorizasyon espesyal. Li pèmèt tou paran adoptif la otomatikman pran gad timoun nan si patnè li a mouri. Menm jan an tou, si paran adoptif la mouri, timoun nan ap gen dwa eritye nan men li menm si pa gen yon testaman, epi li ka kapab resevwa benefis sivivan sekirite sosyal.

Finalman, si koup la separe, adopsyon an asire ke tou de paran yo gen dwa pou yo gen gad timoun nan ak dwa pou yo vizite yo, epi nenpòt diskisyon pral deside sou sa ki nan pi bon enterè timoun nan olye de kiyès ki paran legal la.

Èske nou bezwen fè yon adopsyon pa yon dezyèm paran si nou marye?

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. Akò Ko-parantaj: Yon akò ko-parantaj se yon akò ki etabli atant paran yo sou wòl youn lòt ak plan yo nan ka separasyon, andikap, oswa lanmò. Pandan ke tribinal yo pa toujou bay akò sa yo tout efè, paske yo oblije pran desizyon sou gad timoun ak vizit ki baze sou pi bon enterè timoun nan, yo se endikatè enpòtan sou sa koup la ap fè. kwè te nan pi bon enterè timoun nan epi li ka enfliyanse desizyon final tribinal la.
  2. Testaman: 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.”)).