This article is the third installment in an ongoing series by Ashley Palma, Associate Attorney at McGill Law. In earlier posts, Ashley explored how name changes and wills can help protect identity, connection, and legacy for individuals and families across Nebraska and Iowa. This installment focuses on adoption, including how confirmation and affirmation adoptions can legally secure the families people are already building. These options are especially important for LGBTQ+ parents, stepparents, and others whose families may not fit traditional legal molds.
Missed the earlier posts?
Start with Protecting Your Rights, Protecting Yourself: Name Changes in Nebraska, then read Estate Planning in Nebraska: Why Having a Will Matters
At McGill Law, we believe families are defined by love, commitment, and connection. Whether you're a single parent, a blended family, a same-sex couple, or part of a multigenerational household, your family deserves legal protection and recognition. Adoption is one way to create, affirm, or secure that protection.
Adoption Isn’t Just for Newborns
Many adoptions in Nebraska and Iowa happen within existing families. These include:
Stepparent adoptions
Grandparent adoptions
Aunt or uncle adoptions
Most commonly, these adoptions involve minors, but Nebraska and Iowa law also allow for adult adoptions. This can help legally reinforce lifelong family bonds.
Why Adoption Still Matters for LGBTQ+ Families
Even when both spouses are listed on a child’s birth certificate, that recognition may not always hold up in court. LGBTQ+ families who conceive using donor sperm or donor eggs may face additional legal uncertainty.
For example:
Two mothers may conceive using a sperm donor, with one carrying the pregnancy.
Two fathers may use a surrogate and an egg donor to have a child.
While both parents might appear on the birth certificate, laws in other states or future legal changes could challenge their status. Adoption creates a legally enforceable parent-child relationship that can be recognized across state lines.
What Is a Confirmation or Affirmation Adoption?
A confirmation adoption (also called an affirmation adoption) is a legal process that secures a parent’s relationship with their child. McGill Law helps Nebraska and Iowa families with every step, including:
Filing the petition for adoption
Providing proper notices (if required)
Completing background checks
Representing you at the adoption hearing
Once the process is complete, you receive a Decree of Adoption. This formal court order gives you full parental rights under state law and adds an extra layer of protection for your family.
Let’s Talk About Securing Your Family’s Future
If you are wondering whether a confirmation or affirmation adoption is right for your family, we are here to help. McGill Law has deep experience in adoption law and is committed to helping you feel confident your family is protected.
We serve families throughout Nebraska and Iowa with offices in Omaha and Lincoln. If you're considering adoption in either state, contact us at 402-548-5418 to learn how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Ashley Palma is an Associate Attorney at McGill Law. She focuses on helping individuals and families protect their rights through thoughtful legal planning and representation. Ashley works with clients across Nebraska on matters including name changes, estate planning, and family law. Her compassionate, inclusive approach helps clients feel seen, heard, and protected.