In Amsterdam, where diverse families often make use of stepparent adoption at the Amsterdam District Court, significant legal consequences arise. The stepparent acquires all rights and obligations, such as inheritance rights, parental authority and maintenance obligations.
Severance of Old Ties in the Amsterdam Context
The legal bond with the biological ex-parent ends completely: no maintenance obligation remains and no inheritance claims. The child may assume the stepparent's surname, which must be arranged at the Amsterdam civil registry. Local institutions such as the Juridisch Loket Amsterdam provide free advice on this.
Revocation Options at the Amsterdam District Court
After registration in the Amsterdam registers, the adoption is irrevocable, except in cases of fraud, coercion or deception within one year after the judgment. A request for revocation at the Amsterdam District Court requires substantial evidence and a strict test against the child's best interests, in accordance with Book 1 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Practical Implications for Amsterdam Families
Passports, school enrollments at Amsterdam primary schools and health insurance via CZ or Zilveren Kruis must be updated. From 2025, EU legislation introduces a digital register for international recognition, relevant for Amsterdam's expat community. In the event of divorce after adoption, both parents remain responsible, with possible mediation via the Amsterdam family law office.
Important for Amsterdam: consult follow-up care with child psychologists in the city for possible traumas. Post-adoption legal advice from law firms in the Zuidas or city center is strongly recommended for future disputes.