Adult Adoption Examined

Angela Chaput Foy (Associate, Halling & Cayo, S.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin) has recently published her article entitled Adult Adoption and the Elder Population, 8 Marq. Elder’s Advisor 109 (2006).

Here is the introduction to her article:

Elder adults face challenges that are unique to their current stage in life. Their health, means of income, and daily routine all may have changed from earlier periods in their life. With these changes, elders also may reevaluate their relationships. Adult adoption may be an option for elder adults who wish to form a familial relationship with someone to whom they are not currently related.

The first section of this article explores adult adoption: what it is, how it works and how it differs from minor child adoption. The second section then examines how adult adoption may affect the elder population: through traditional and non-traditional inheritance, formalizing relationships, and grandparents’ rights. Lastly, the article reveals the risks that elders may face because of their involvement in an adult adoption. Although this article does recognize adult adoption as a means to form non-traditional families, it does not discuss adult adoption as a substitute for marriage; therefore, it does not discuss adult adoption as it may apply to homosexual couples.