If you have decided that you’re ready to adopt a child, it’s in your best interest to talk to a skilled Greenville adoption lawyer. They know the law and understand how the adoption process works. Here, we’ll shed light on how this process does work and explain what you should expect if you’re embarking on the adoption process.
What Kind of Adoption Are You Interested In?
Before you move forward with an adoption, it’s important that you decide what route you wish to take. If you recently got married, your new spouse may have children that you want to adopt. If that’s the case, you’ll have to get consent from the children’s other parent. If they refuse to do so (or they are MIA), you can ask the court to terminate their parental rights. If you and your spouse can’t have children or want to adopt for some other reason, you still have choices to make. Do you want to adopt a child from within the U.S. or are you willing to entertain an international adoption?
Once you’ve decided what type of adoption you want to pursue, you have to decide if you want to go through an adoption agency. If so, our Greenville adoption lawyers can help connect you with one. If you prefer a private adoption, then you may already have someone in mind. Every case is unique. Until our family lawyer in Greenville knows what your preferences are, they won’t be able to move forward.
Stepparent Adoptions Are a Lot Easier than Most
If you’re looking to complete a stepparent adoption, it is a bit easier than traditional adoptions. In these cases, you already have the consent of one biological parent – your spouse. Now you have to go about getting permission from their other biological parent. This isn’t always easy. There are times when our client has already talked to their ex and they have agreed to the adoption. For example, if the other biological parent is in jail or in a bad state, they may realize the kids are better off with you and your new spouse.
Sometimes, it’s impossible to get consent from the other parent because nobody knows how to get in contact with them. Our Greenville adoption lawyers can certainly suggest private investigators to help you find them. If that isn’t possible, we can always petition the court to terminate their parental rights in absentia. This is not easy to do. The courts are very reluctant to terminate somebody’s parental rights. It is permanent and they want to give the other parent as much of an opportunity to speak up as possible.
You Must Also File a Petition with the Court and Complete Thorough Background Checks
Once you’ve decided what type of adoption you wish to pursue, you’ll have to submit to several background checks. You’ll also need to file a petition for adoption with the county family court. The court is going to point an attorney or social worker to serve as the adoptive child’s guardian. This way, they can make sure an adoption is in the best interest of the child. They also want to make sure you’re the kind of person who is fit to be a parent, especially to an adopted child.
You’ll be required to submit to both a criminal background check as well as a financial one. They will look to see what kind of work you do and whether you pay your bills. They will also talk to people in your life to see what kind of references they provide. If they feel that your background check is clear, you will move on to the home study.
You Will Also Be Subjected to a Detailed Home Study
One of the hardest and most frustrating parts of the adoption process is the home study. This is an intense and anxiety ridden process. A social worker will come out to your home and interview you and your spouse or partner. They will also want to talk to anybody else who lives in your home, including your other children. They will look at your home to make sure it is clean and secure. They will ask you questions about your parenting style.
Once they are done with your home study, the social worker will submit a written report to the court. The judge will take the information in this report very seriously. If they don’t think you would be a good parent, they will deny your petition for adoption. If, however, the home study final report is positive, it could make a difference in your case.
It’s in Your Best Interest to Have a Greenville Adoption Lawyer in Greenville by Your Side
Pursuing an adoption is no easy feat. While it may seem like a straightforward process, it is a lot more complicated than most people think. First, you must choose which type of adoption you want to pursue. You also have to decide if you want to use an adoption agency or if you’d rather negotiate a private adoption. Some people prefer to adopt a baby in the U.S. while others are willing to consider an international adoption. Even if you’re just looking to adopt your new spouse’s children, it can be quite difficult. Our Greenville Adoption Lawyer meets with new clients all the time who are looking to adopt a child. Not all of them complete the process. Some of them simply are not willing or able to go through the long, sometimes drawn-out process of adoption.
We suggest that you call and talk to one of our Greenville adoption lawyers as soon as you’re sure you want to adopt. Once we sit down and figure out how you want to proceed, we can get the process started. We can connect you with an adoption agency if you want to go that route. Or, if you already have someone who will agree to a private adoption, we will help craft an adoption contract to protect you and your family. Either way, our family lawyers in Greenville will do our best to make sure your adoption process goes smoothly. We just want to help you and your family adopt a healthy child.
All you have to do is call and schedule your initial consultation. From there, we’ll decide what your options are and get the process moving forward.
