In a marriage, one or both spouses may wish to adopt the child or children of the other.

Sometimes they do so for purposes of having a family unit, as though the adopted children were the natural children of the spouses.

After any adoption, with respect to minor children, if the parties divorce, the adoptive parent may have the same duties and parental responsibilities in regard to child support and other issues as though the minor child was his or her natural child.

It may not be difficult to adopt the child or children of the other spouse. However, it may be difficult to envision that there could ever be a dissolution of marriage after the adoption, with the possible consequence being the responsibility for child support, revision for college expenses and the right to inherit from the adoptive parent regardless if there is a subsequent divorce.