Baker OKs bill allowing all-in-the-family adoption

Older siblings and relatives able to adopt younger relatives under bill

Gov. Charlie Baker has signed the bill closing a longstanding legal loophole in Massachusetts by signing a law that will allow older siblings and other relatives to adopt their younger relatives. “In recent years, the Commonwealth has made great strides to expand the legal definition of ‘family,’” said Sen. Joan B. Lovely, D-Salem, who filed the Senate version of the bill. “I am pleased to have sponsored (this bill) to better reflect and support residents across our Commonwealth who love and care for another.”

Lovely said at the time that the bill passed the Senate that the importance of closing this legal loophole has been heightened during the pandemic, as many young people’s parents have died from the disease. Massachusetts was formerly one of only two states that did not allow people to adopt their younger siblings, aunts or uncles.

The origin of the law appears to come from a desire to prevent older siblings from adopting younger siblings to take control of their inheritance.

In previous testimony, Rep. Jack Lewis, D-Framingham, who sponsored the House version of the bill, gave the example of a 30-year-old with a stable career and home wanting to adopt their 10-year-old sibling from their unstable mother.

“It happens, it’s very feasible,” Lewis said at the time.

He tweeted last week that “(t)his bill provides greater permanency & support to many children in our Commonwealth.”

“When it becomes necessary to remove a child from their biological parents, keeping family connections is essential to the child’s mental and emotional health and well-being, as well as their sense of safety, stability, and belonging!” the Children’s League of Massachusetts tweeted earlier this week. The organization has long been in support of this bill.