Stepparent/Domestic Partner Adoptions
Investigation Report fo​r the Court
Stepparent adoption refers to the legal process through which a stepparent adopts the child of their spouse or domestic partner. This process grants the stepparent full legal parental rights and responsibilities for the child. Stepparent adoptions typically occur when the child’s other biological parent is absent, deceased, or unable to fulfill their parental responsibilities. In some cases, stepparent adoption is also used to establish a legal parent-child relationship following surrogacy or sperm/egg donation.
Whether you are petitioning the court on your own or with the assistance of an attorney, an investigation report is required for all stepparent or domestic partner adoptions in the State of California.
In California, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is authorized to complete the court-required investigation report for a stepparent adoption. Nina Anderson, LCSW, is an experienced investigator who can assist you with this portion of the process. Using the county probate system can often take several months—or even years—to be assigned an investigator, and many counties no longer offer this service. Nina is available to begin promptly and typically completes and files the report with the court within one month of the interview. Expedited services may also be available on a case-by-case basis..
