Adopting a child can be a wonderful experience and fortunately, most adoptions work out well for everyone involved. Adoption is a legal process that ends the rights of the biological parent and gives you sole decision-making power. Once the adoption is final, you are the child’s legal parent and have all the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent. Adoption legal services usually take about 2 years from start to finish, depending on the details of your case. Since adoption is such an important and emotional decision, it is in your best interest to acquire the assistance of an adoption attorney who is familiar with the laws and process of adoption.

Although all states regulate their adoption agencies, requiring them to comply with a strict code of ethics, it is important to remember that an adoption agency is not your advocate. The main responsibility of an adoption agency is to determine if you are a suitable parent for the particular child you plan to adopt. Adoption attorneys must be state-licensed to practice law, but do not necessarily need to be licensed in adoption law. Therefore, you would want to make sure that the adoption attorney you hire has experience with adoption cases. If you are looking into an international adoption, you should know that there are significant legal barriers to such adoptions including arranging for the child to be issued a United States visa. For international adoptions, it’s usually easiest to work with an international adoption agency that is based in the United States or have a facilitator in the respective country.

Adoption laws vary significantly from state to state and compliance with such laws is very important. For example, some states seal the adoption records while other allow the adopted child to access their records once they reach a certain age. Some states have ‘grandparent’s rights’ statutes in which the grandparents can maintain contact and possibly visitation with their grandchild post-adoption. The National Adoption Center and Adoption.net are two sites that provide excellent insights and resources related to adoption.

Adoption situations can raise child custody issues, which is another reason as to why it is to your benefit to entrust an experienced attorney. Adoption/Child Custody lawyers can explain your legal rights, options, and responsibilities to you; represent you in court; advocate on your behalf; and negotiate an acceptable arrangement with the other parental figures in the child’s life. Lawyers with this specific experience can be invaluable during such an important decision and process.

Related Posts
DWI: Driving while intoxicated
Operating  or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs that impair your driving skills and perception is a crime in the United States which is ...
READ MORE
Questions which should be asked to a real estate attorney
Afterall, you are going to invest a good nest egg on it and real estate transactions are undoubtedly important. There are a plenty of things to consider when buying or ...
READ MORE
Zoning laws – Avoid Zoning trouble
The primordial rule for business location is to never sign a lease for a business zone or space if you are not yet completely sure that you are legally allowed ...
READ MORE
While choosing tenants, avoid Fair Housing Complaints and Lawsuits
There are Federal and State laws that promote antidiscrimination where you as a landlord have certain limitations with the things you should say & do when selecting a tenant. If ...
READ MORE
Basic landlord laws in US
If you're a landlord and you want to protect your real estate investment, you need to have the knowledge that relates to all the state statutory and common laws governing ...
READ MORE
Renting Office Space: Know What’s Involved
Office spaces are efficient for business owners and entrepreneurs to run their operations. Sometimes, sharing these commercial spaces with another person in the same line of profession or business is ...
READ MORE
How landlords can check a tenant’s credit report?
There are private credits reporting agencies that collect credit files and other consumer information and sell them. Landlords can get the credit report of their tenants through these agencies. Landlords ...
READ MORE
Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney is a lawful document which grants you the legal right to appoint another individual to act on your behalf and manage your financial affairs, property or health ...
READ MORE
Bankruptcy filling without an attorney
Within the 2005 legal guidelines, customers have to choose credit score guidance before submitting a new individual bankruptcy request. Consumers are also subjected to an easy method check, to determine ...
READ MORE
Legal Aid For Child Custody?
Divorce is the solution to separate but child custody is solution to meet again your child. you want to see your kid, care for them and want to protect them ...
READ MORE
DWI: Driving while intoxicated
Questions which should be asked to a real
Zoning laws – Avoid Zoning trouble
While choosing tenants, avoid Fair Housing Complaints and
Basic landlord laws in US
Renting Office Space: Know What’s Involved
How landlords can check a tenant’s credit report?
Power of Attorney
Bankruptcy filling without an attorney
Legal Aid For Child Custody?