US woman surprises her stepdaughter with adoption in court

When Jessi Coleman was summoned to a US courthouse earlier this month, there’s no way she could have anticipated what was awaiting her.

Coleman, 37, was accompanied to the Washington County Courthouse in Bartlesville, Oklahoma by her stepmother Karla Robinson, after being called up by Judge Russ Vaclaw.

Footage taken during their meeting depicts the two women approaching the bench, with Coleman clearly unaware of why she was there.

Robinson, however, knew exactly what was happening. 

Robinson married Coleman’s father in 1989, and they gained custody of his daughter after it was discovered she’d been sexually abused by a friend of her biological mother.

Although the couple split 11 years ago, Robinson has remained close to her stepdaughter.

RELATED: Stranger on plane adopts pregnant woman's child

Their story struck a chord with Judge Vaclaw, who summoned Coleman the day after he received Robinson’s plea to adopt her.

In the audio recorded inside court, the judge explains that while Coleman wasn’t born 29 years ago, that’s when she gained a mother.

“It’s always amazing to me how so many people love a child that wasn’t necessarily born to them in the same way that a child can be loved,” he continues.

Vaclaw explains that although Robinson has treated Coleman as if she were her own biological child, they are not legally considered mother and daughter - yet.

As the reason for the meeting dawns on her, Coleman can be seen wiping away tears.

LISTEN: Catch up on this week's parenting news and views with our Honey Mums podcast. (Post continues.)

Robinson then explains she’s been planning to surprise her with the adoption since the start of the year.

“I've always wanted to adopt Jessi; she and I had talked about it off and on for years, but unfortunately I wasn't in a financial position to do it,” she reportedly said.

“I've told her since day one that although she wasn't born in my womb, she was born in my heart and I stand by that.”