Was Natalia Grace an adult? This is one of the biggest questions being asked after the recent release of Good American Family. After all, the series depicts one of the most controversial adoption stories in recent history.
Here’s a lowdown on what is the actual age of Natalia when she was adopted, what happened and more.
Was Good American Family’s Natalia Grace an adult during adoption?
Natalia Grace, who has a rare form of dwarfism, was adopted from Ukraine by Kristine and Michael Barnett. At the time, they were told she was around six years old. However, the Barnetts soon became suspicious, citing Natalia’s physical development as evidence that she was much older. They pointed to her having adult teeth, pubic hair, and even menstruation as signs that she was not a child.
In 2012, an Indiana court changed Grace’s birth year from 2003 to 1989, making her legal age 22 years old. This decision came after a detective raised doubts about her birth certificate’s authenticity. Following this ruling, the Barnetts moved Natalia into an apartment and stopped supporting her, claiming she was an adult pretending to be a child.
Grace, however, has consistently denied being an adult at the time of her adoption. In a Dr. Phil interview, she stated she was 16, aligning with her original Ukrainian birth certificate. In 2023, she was formally adopted by the Mans family, who supported her claims and took her into their home.
So whether Grace was an adult when she was adopted still remains a debated topic. Good American Family suggests that genetics testing later reaffirmed her birth year as 2003 making her age 22 years old. Nonetheless, despite years of legal battles and public speculation, Natalia continues to insist she was a child when adopted.
