Top Reasons To Hire An Adoption Attorney
Adopting a child is a wonderful and rewarding way to grow your family. However, many people who have never adopted do not realize that the adoption process can be long, and there are many legalities, rules, and regulations that must be followed before an adoption can be legally finalized. It is in the best interest of a couple who is adopting to hire an experienced adoption attorney. Some of the top reasons to hire an adoption attorney include:
Adoptions Across State Lines
It is very common for couples to make adoption arrangements with a birth mother who resides in a different state. When this happens, adoption laws from both states must be complied with before the baby can be released and the adoption can be finalized. When there are adoption laws from two states that must be followed, things can get very complicated. An experienced adoption attorney will understand the regulations of an interstate adoption and will be able to ensure that the entire process goes smoothly according the the laws of your state and the birth mother's state.
Rights of the Birth Parents
In order for a baby to be adopted, both the birth mother and the birth father must legally terminate their parental rights before the adoption can be finalized. Since the birth mother is typically involved in the adoption process, obtaining the proper signature is usually not a major issue. However, the rights of the birth father must be respected as well, and an adoption can be delayed if the birth father does not agree to terminate his parental rights. Having an adoption attorney will help ensure that the necessary parental termination paperwork is completed in a timely manner.
Negotiating an Open Adoption
In this day an age, it is not uncommon for domestic adoptions to be open adoptions. This means that the birth mother and father can remain in contact with you and may be able to have some involvement in the child's life. If this is something that both you and the birth mother are interested in, an adoption attorney can assist is setting up an open adoption agreement that you are comfortable with.
Creating Contracts
Since an adoption requires a lot of legal paperwork, having an adoption attorney is essential in order to protect your best interests. Your attorney can draw up contracts on your behalf and also review contracts and fee schedules before you sign them. This will ensure that you don't get taken advantage of when working with an adoption agency or the adoption attorney representing the birth mother.
For more information, contact a local law office, like Karen Robins Carnegie PLC.
