Step parent- adoption or parental responsibility?

[Gabzay]

Hi all just looking for an opinion
DH is step dad to my son and my son calls him and considers him as dad. Bio dad died when son was a baby.
We would like to cement our family and have more children. Looking into PR or adoption, spoke to solicitors and they told us just to go for PR and not bother with adoption...saying its expensive and a long process. Just do PR and add son to my husbands will.
We are a bit confused and surely there is a big enough difference between the two? Or have we missed something?
Also if we go down the adoption route...could bio family object to the adoption? Like do they have rights over this?
Any advice or views please!

I think adoption severs the legal link entirely from the bio dad’s family, and changes inheritance rights too. In this situation, with the bio dad dying, you also have the added concern that your dc may resent you for doing this when he’s a bit older. Especially if the relationship between you and your dp breaks down. Suggest you take the legal advice really.

I wouldn’t do either. He can add him to his will regardless.

A child isn’t old enough to make such an important decision for themselves and having it made for them may backfire when they are older.

Let your child make a choice when old enough. Feelings on his dads death can change over the years and he may resent you both for talking the choice away from him.

Definitely pr to protect your son ... if something happened to you he then would automatically be allowed to take responsibility but adopting may be better for permanence, doesn't need to be expensive but takes ages

Adoption is designed to be in the best interests and to meet the needs of the child, and you are only stating what you and your DP want.

It also seems unnecessarily unkind to a family that has lost a son to also sever their family links with their grandson.

Go for PR.