Adoption

Seek Legal Advice from an Adoption Attorney

Adoption of a child or stepchild is a process where a family law attorney files a petition and requests a court to establish legal parentage.

If you’re looking to adopt, understanding your state’s adoption laws is essential. Make sure you choose the adoption process that’s right for you and your family. Some of your options include:

• Adoptions via public or private agency
• Independent adoption with no agencies involved
• Open adoptions where the birth parents remain in contact with the child
• Closed adoptions, aka confidential adoptions, where the birth parents’ identity is kept sealed

To learn more about how to proceed with an adoption in your state, contact an adoption attorney today.

Video Transcript:

If you're considering a legal adoption of a minor, there are several different types of adoption to consider. Adopting through an agency involves the placement of an underage minor with a signed adoptive parents through the used of either a public or private agency. These agencies are always licensed and regulated by local jurisdictions and the state. There are legal certifications, licenses and related documents should be readily available for all patrons to see.

Public agencies usually hold minors who have come into custody of the state for several reasons. Private agencies are often organized by either charities or other social service organizations, and usually involve parents who are willingly giving their child up for adoption.

Then there are independent forms of adoption when no agency is involved in the process of the adoption. This is referred to as a private or independent adoption.

Most of these types of adoption involved a direct agreement between the adoptive parents and the child's birth parents. It might also include the use of an intermediary. Not all states allow for independent adoptions, and while most states do, and nonetheless will regulate the process quite diligently.

Open adoptions are a form of independent adoptions where agreed arrangement involves the ability of the birth parents or parent to maintain a form of contact with the child after birth. This should be arranged in the form of a contract and does not necessarily into a person-to person contact.

Identified adoptions are commonly known as a hybrid form of adoption. They usually involve both sets of parents who find each other outside of an agency. They then turn to an agency only for the filing process. Identified adoptions are considered hybrids because they involve both independent methods and agency support.

If you're not sure which type of adoption is best for your family, talk to an experienced adoption attorney in your state. They know the laws, and they can tell you with first-hand experience what to expect with each different type. They can guide you through the complex process so that nothing gets overlooked.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.