The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has seen significant strides in gaining equal rights in the last few years. Of course, one of the major advances was when the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional in June 2013. However, there is still a long way to go for LGBT individuals to receive fair and equal treatment when compared to their heterosexual neighbors.
Another court ruling this year made gay adoption legal in all 50 states. Here are some frequently-asked questions about North Dakota LGBT adoption laws.
— Can a same-sex couple petition jointly to adopt? Yes
— Can single LGBT persons petition to adopt? Yes
— Can a same-sex partner petition to adopt his or her partner’s child? There is no law that prohibits such a petition.
— Does it take longer for an LGBT adoption to be approved. No matter what your sexual preferences may be, it takes time for an adoption to be finalized.
— Do children who grow up in a lesbian or gay household develop more problems than children with heterosexual parents? This is a question that has seen a lot of debate. Recent studies have shown that children who are raised by gay or lesbian parents aren’t any different from those children who are raised with heterosexual parents. Love and nurture your child. Do so to the best of your abilities. Both your child and you will reap the rewards.
Are you considering adoption? The advice and guidance of an experienced family law attorney can be of enormous benefit. He or she can walk you through the steps and will work diligently to ensure there are no bumps in the process simply because you are a member of the LGBT community.
Source: lifelongadoptions.com, “LGBT Adoption Laws North Dakota,” accessed Nov. 13, 2016