Dancing on the Edge

The Adoption

It went without a hitch, thank God. There is always that chance, isn't there? But for now and ever more; Baby K has two legal parents.










Did you know?
Washington State is one of only 21 states which allows same sex parent adoptions. And in several of the 21 states, it is based on county and certain judges within those counties. Protecting children in same sex parent households is not a given. In so many states, there are no laws to protect either the child nor the non-birth parent. It is a huge thing that we live in a state where we are allowed to protect our children and each other.

A few of the rights that are legally given via second parent adoption:

medical/dental/life insurance for child
social security death benefit for child if the parent were to die
parent will be able to legally give permission for things from field trip to surgery, etc.
inheritance rights for child
custody of child if birth parent were to die
ability to take sick days off of work if child is sick
right to use Family Medical Leave benefits if child is very sick
rights to discuss child and give permission, etc. with any school, etc.
custody rights if relationship were to fail
child support

Shouldn't every child and parent have a right to be protected legally? I'm so thankful we live in a state where it is possible for us. Now if the entire country would just move in the direction of it being a given instead of needing to go to court, that would be good, right and fair.