XP: Stepparent Adoption

SarieP

I posted this on Blended Families as well, but thought maybe I could get some feedback here as well.

For those of you who have done a stepparent adoption, did you talk to your other family members first? What is your story?  How did you feel about the whole process?  I have so many questions!!   

mysticl

My brother-in-law adopted my niece and nephew after he married my sister.  She was a widow so there were no parental rights issues to deal with.  They mentioned it to the family when they were considering it but didn't make a huge fuss about going to court and finalization.  It was kind of bittersweet for the family.  It was great that their step-dad wanted to take that step and that the kids had healed enough to allow him, but there was some sadness that their biological father who was an amazing man would no longer be legally recognized as their father.  They did not change the last names of the children and my sister did not adopt her husband's children because their mother is alive and involved.