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LGBTQ+ Paths to Parentage Security

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Confirmatory adoption

Availability to LGBTQ parents: Some states

Force of a court order; guaranteed full faith and credit in all states: Yes

Where available, open to married parents of any gender: Yes

Where available, open to unmarried parents of any gender: Yes

Requires homestudy, background check, notice to gamete donor, etc.: No

Requires lawyer: Some

Protects child from moment of birth: No

Stepparent adoption

Availability to LGBTQ parents: All states

Force of a court order; guaranteed full faith and credit in all states: Yes

Where available, open to married parents of any gender: Yes

Where available, open to unmarried parents of any gender: No

Requires homestudy, background check, notice to gamete donor, etc.: Some (usually waived)

Requires court appearance: Yes

Requires lawyer: Some

Protects child from moment of birth: No

Co-parent (second-parent) adoption

Availability to LGBTQ parents: Some states

Force of a court order; guaranteed full faith and credit in all states: Yes

Where available, open to married parents of any gender: Yes

Where available, open to unmarried parents of any gender: Some

Requires homestudy, background check, notice to gamete donor, etc.: Some (waived in some states)

Requires court appearance: Some (waived in some states)

Requires lawyer: Some

Protects child from moment of birth: No

Judgment of Parentage

Availability to LGBTQ parents: Some states

Force of a court order; guaranteed full faith and credit in all states: Yes

Where available, open to married parents of any gender: Some

Where available, open to unmarried parents of any gender: Some

Requires homestudy, background check, notice to gamete donor, etc.: No

Requires court appearance: Yes

Requires lawyer: Some

Protects child from moment of birth: Yes, if done before birth

Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage/Acknowledgment of Parentage

Availability to LGBTQ parents: Some states

Force of a court order; guaranteed full faith and credit in all states: Yes

Where available, open to married parents of any gender: Some

Where available, open to unmarried parents of any gender: Yes

Requires homestudy, background check, notice to gamete donor, etc.: No

Requires court appearance: No

Requires lawyer: No

Protects child from moment of birth: Yes, if done at birth

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