Adult adoption, the legal process of one adult becoming the legal child of another, involves various expenses depending on the jurisdiction and specific circumstances. These costs typically include court filing fees, legal representation, and potential home study or background check fees. While the process mirrors aspects of minor adoption, it centers on establishing a legal parent-child relationship between adults, often for inheritance, healthcare access, or formalizing an existing familial bond.
Establishing this legal parent-child relationship offers significant benefits. It can provide clarity in matters of inheritance, ensuring an individual is included in a will or estate. It can also grant access to healthcare benefits and decision-making authority, especially crucial in situations where an individual requires long-term care. Historically, adult adoptions were less common but have seen an increase as societal structures evolve and blended families become more prevalent. This legal framework offers a means of solidifying family connections and providing legal protections previously unavailable outside traditional family structures.
