If you want to grow your family, one of the things you may be looking in to is adoption. Adoption can let you bring a child into your home, either from the U.S. or another country, and give them the life that they deserve. It can be used to give your spouse parental rights by allowing them to legally be a stepparent.
Adoption is not always easy, no matter what kind you’re pursuing. There may be home studies required. You may have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars traveling or preparing legal documents. It’s important that you have someone who understands the process while you’re going through this, which is why many adoptive parents work with an attorney.
Why work with an adoption attorney?
An adoption attorney is familiar with state laws that may affect your case. They are knowledgeable about the process of adoption, the usual timeline and snags you may run in to along the way. They also know about the different kinds of adoptions, like open and closed, domestic or international and stepparent adoptions
In the United States, there are around 1.5 million adopted children, and around 40% come from the foster care system. Your attorney will also be familiar with how to work with the foster care community, so that you can have more information about what foster care is and if it’s a good option when you want to adopt.
With so many factors to consider, it’s a good idea to know your legal rights as a potential adoptive parent. An experienced attorney can help you throughout the process.
