Sia’s Amazing Adoption Story—She Adopted One Son and Ended Up with Two!

You might know Sia for her catchy hits like “Unstoppable,” but the megastar has a very different side to her as well. The Grammy-award-winning pop star, 44, adopted two 18-year-olds out of the foster care system last year. During an interview with SiriusXM, the typically private singer confirmed she adopted kids in 2019.

“I actually adopted two sons last year. They were 18, they’re both 19 years old now,” she said. “They were aging out of the foster care system and yeah, and I love them.”

The singer has expressed her desire to become a mom before, so news of the adoption wasn’t a surprise to her fans. However, no one expected her to adopt two adults. Sia’s circumstances might seem unusual, but adult adoption in California is actually quite common. Here’s what Sia’s story can teach us about California adoptions, as well as what to do if you’re considering bringing a new member into your family. 

How Sia Adopted Two Children 

Sia told InStyle that she always wanted to be a mom. She reportedly tried for years to get pregnant via IVF with her ex-husband, filmmaker Erik Anders Lang. Unfortunately, the couple divorced in 2016 before they had any children. The “Chandelier” singer spent several years recovering from the trauma of her marriage. Then “everything changed,” she said, after she watched a documentary about the foster care system.

“I learned the story of a 16-year-old boy and instantly fell in love with him. Older children have a really hard time getting adopted, and when I saw him, I said to myself, ‘That’s my son,’” she said. “I knew I wanted to help him. By the time I found him, he was 18 and aging out of the foster care system. I told him that I wanted to adopt him, and since he was an adult, he left with me that day.”

Even though she was only looking to adopt one son, Sia ended up with two sons. Her newly adopted son wanted to help his cousin Che, who had lived with him in a group home. The pop star agreed to lend a hand, even though she had never met Che. Sia later learned that they are just friends and not related, but she didn’t care; she ended up adopting them both. She told InStyle she realized over the past year that Che was also meant to be her son.

Adopting Adults in California

Sia’s adoption story makes the entire process sound like a breeze. This isn’t just because of Sia’s resources; it’s because of the age of her adopted son. Adoption is usually simple when the adopted person (adoptee) is over 18 years of age and doesn’t need parental permission. The only requirements are thar both parties agree to the adoption and the adopting adult is at least 10 years older than the adoptee.

To adopt an adult in California, you must file these documents with the court:

• Petition – This is a formal petition filed by the adoptive parent and adoptee. It ask the court to approve the adoption and contains information such as how long the adoptive parent and adoptee have known each other and why they want the adoption to take place. It also includes the name, age, and place of birth of both parties.
• Adoption agreement – A signed and dated agreement by the adoptive parent and the adoptee. The involved parties are going to assume the legal relationship of a parent and child. That includes all the duties and responsibilities the relationship entails.
• Consents – Since the adoption process changes the legal rights of the involved parties, the adoptive parent, the adoptee, and their respective spouses must give consent. A married person can’t adopt without the consent of their spouse. The same rule applies to the adult adoptee.
• Order of adoption – A judge will review and approve the adoption request and then sign an order of adoption. This is the final step.

If you’re looking to adopt, file the papers in your county’s superior court. A probate clerk will then provide you with a hearing date. Filing fees depend on the county. For example, Santa Clara County doesn’t have any filing fees for adult adoptions, but Orange County does.

Both the adoptive parent and the adoptee must attend the adoption proceedings. The hearing is confidential and is held privately in the judge’s chambers. Bringing family, friends, and cameras to the adoption hearing is encouraged!

Get Professional Adoption Services 

Adult adoption is a complicated process that involves a lot of paperwork. The adoption petition, agreement, and order of adoption require specific information, and even the court recommends interested parties get professional assistance.

That doesn’t mean you need to involve an adoption attorney; that’s just an unnecessary expense. A legal document assistant can help you accurately fill out and compile all the forms required to complete an adult adoption.

If you’re considering adopting an adult in California, contact A People’s Choice for low-cost help with the legal documents. Our legal document assistants can’t provide you with legal counsel, but they can help you prepare all the required paperwork. We can make the adoption process simple and stress-free. Call us at 800-747-2780!