I live in Pennsylvania. I have had may nephew since he was 18, he lives here in a loving home and is a senior in high school. I cover him under insurance, support him, etc. He wants to be adopted by me. His mother has made his life unbearable. She is always, verbally telling him or harassing him. Can I legally adopt him without his mother's consent, because he is over 18? He is a great kid, she tried to say his whole life, he was disabled and even asked for social security. He is in advanced placement classes and HONOR ROLL. Does this sound like someone who is border line retarded? It was always about the money with her.I just want him happy.

It isn't necessary to adopt a l9 year old. He is already an adult. However, he can legally change his name to yours. Now it comes down to the insurance issue because he is an adult and can earn his own way, arrange his own insurance. This is not a child you are supporting any longer.

Tick

Please pay more attention to posting guidelines. There is a Read First sticky in the Adoption forum (where this was moved from) that directs questions of a legal nature to this forum.

Since he is over 18 you do not need parental consent to adopt. However, I'm not sure what adoption will get you. Since he's already covered by your insurance the only benefit would be inheritance and you can deal with that in a will.

How is it he is covered by your insurance ? Do you have some sort of formal court order ?

Thank you. I did have a notarized guardianship paper set up, which he signed due to the fact he was on access and now lives in a different county. My spouse's work accepted that to added him to the insurance because he is still in high school. This has been a very ugly situation with his mother. I just don't know how much his mother has to consent to.

Plus, it is such a severed relationship. He wants her totally out of his life, forever. In PA, parents have educational rights until the age of 21. She calls and shows up at his school all the time. He is in fear she will do the same thing in college.

I'm surprised the insurance accepted it. Guardianship usually needs to be approved by a court. Notarizing does nothing more than confirm a signature.

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Originally Posted by mcrist0828

I live in pennsylvania. I have had may nephew since he was 18, he lives here in a loving home and is a senior in high school. I cover him under insurance, support him, etc. He wants to be adopted by me. His mother has made his life unbearable. She is always, verbally telling him or harrassing him. Can I legally adopt him without his mother's consent, because he is over 18? He is a great kid, she tried to say his whole life, he was disabled and even asked for social security. He is in advanced placement classes and HONOR ROLL. Does this sound like someone who is border line retarded? It was always about the money with her.I just want him happy.

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Yes, you can do it.
Pennsylvania Statutes:
2311. Who may be adopted.

Any individual may be adopted, regardless of his age or residence.
2711. Consents necessary to adoption.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this part, consent to an adoption shall be required of the following:

1. The adoptee, if over 12 years of age.



2713. When other consents not required.

The court, in its discretion, may dispense with consents other than that of the adoptee to a petition for adoption when:

1. the adoptee is over 18 years of age;