Does anyone know anything about step parent adoption if the child has Cherokee blood in him?

Question

My husband and I just started the paperwork for my husband to adopt my son. I found out that things might be a little harder than we thought. The biological father has agreed to sign his rights away... but because he is a part of the Cherokee Indian tribe we are goingto have to do things differently than if he were not of Cherokee descent. Now we have to have the tribes permission for my husband to adopt my son. Does anyone know anything about this and how hard this might end up being for us??? I am worried about what they are going to say....help!

Answer 1

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=The...

Answer 2

Ummm first which tribe is he enrolled with.  I am part of the Eastern Band cherokee indian's in north  carolina....and right now we are going thru an audit.  Which means they are going thru and making sure everyone on the roll's are truly cherokee...and not adpoted or bought their membership.

The main problem with you husband adopting your son is...did you sign paper work making your son enrolled also???  If you did...I know with eastern band...all minor's under the age of 18 get the same amount of check's that adult's do.  They can't touch it till the turn 18 and graduate from school.  If your baby daddy is an enrolled member...then his child get's the same benefit's he does.  Now if your husband adopt's him then those benefit's go away since neither one of you are indian.  

I hate to say but yeah you will have to go before the tribal council (this is the eastern band BTW....not sure about rest of tribe's) and ask "premisson" to be able for your husband to adopt your son....it's a lot of red tape...if you have any questions please feel free to send me email [e-mail]

or on yahoo im     kebadabitch

take care....

Answer 3

I'm going to suggest a change in your thought process. Yes, he is your son, but he is also a member of the Cherokee Indian Tribe. They may not know him personally, but, from their perspective, you are someone who may be trying to deny a member of their family access to his heritage.

Your best bet is not to get angry, but to be understanding. Think about how you will teach your son about his heritage: will you read him books, tell him stories, bring him to visits on reservations? Will you commit to helping him learn about who he is?

If you agree to do these kinds of things, they will probably give their approval. But don't do it just for them...do it for your son. Help him to know who he is and where he came from. He will thank you someday.

Answer 4

The Indian Child Welfare Act applies - too many belegaana [white people] were taking the Indian children out of the community. You need a lawyer, probably from Oklahoma, to handle this and make sure you don't adopt and have it reversed later on - can you imagine how tragic that would be? It has happened - do this right from the very beginning.

Good luck

Answer 5

I do not know about that but if he has enough Cherokee blood there is college money available to him. My question to you is what happens to that if your son is adopted? I would think it would still be available but not sure.

Sorry I have no input on your question