Gary Shirley’s Daughter Asks About Process for Stepmom to Adopt Her

Leah Shirley wants to make the family structure she’s grown up in official.

On the Feb. 27 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, the 16-year-old brought up the subject of adoption again.

Of her conversation with fellow MTV personality Cheyenne Floyd, Leah tells dad Gary Shirley, “I kind of told her about how I haven’t really seen Amber for a couple of months or heard from her, so I really just don’t care anymore if she comes around.”

“I don’t really want her to,” she adds.

Addressing stepmom Kristina Shirley, Leah says, “When I was talking to Cheyenne, I also mentioned how I want you to adopt me. And I mentioned how I’ve been wanting that for a long time.”

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“It is one of those things where, as a father, I want to make sure you know if it’s 100, what you want,” Gary begins.

The teen eagerly cut him off to reiterate that it is what she wants. “I know that, I know it is,” he acknowledges.

“I’m just saying, it’s like, once that happens, it would basically be for your mom, for Amber, it would be a big heartbreak for her,” Gary says, adding, “Which I know is not what you want to do, but it’s just part of the process.”

“It is literally what it is. She didn’t raise me,” Leah mutters.

“For me, it’s whatever you want,” Gary reassures her.

Kristina quietly adds, “The thing that scares me the most, too, is like, with her being under the age of 18, if something were to happen to you, what would happen to Leah?”

The three contemplate the possibilities, and Gary says, “I think I want to speak to an attorney and at least just get the information. See what that would entail. That’s the next step. I am going to call a couple of attorneys and see what they say.”

Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.