A relative adoption is the adoption of a child by a family member, related by blood to the person being adopted within the third degree.  A stepparent adoption is when a step parent gains full and equal parental rights over their stepchild. 

The adoption terminates the parental rights of an absent parent, meaning the former parent will no longer being legally entitled to share time with the child or make decisions for the child.  In addition, the child will no longer be the absent parents “family”.

The court will require that the current legal parents provide consent. Otherwise, the person seeking the adoption must show that consent is not necessary, such as when a biological parent has had their parental rights terminated or they are deceased.