Do I Need a Lawyer for Adoption?

Do I Need a Lawyer for Adoption?

“Born not from our flesh, but born into our hearts. You were longed for, wanted, and loved from the start.”

Expanding your family through adoption is an incredibly big decision to make. You are opening your heart to love a child that needs a loving family and secure place to call home. However, the act of expanding your family through adoption can be a long legal process that calls for a specialized adoption lawyer.  All adoptions require a trained adoption attorney to complete the legal services required to terminate parental rights and finalize the adoption.

Adoption transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood from one person to another. A lawyer who specializes in adoption and family law can give you confidence throughout the entire ordeal. According to the Adoption Network, usually, adoption wait times can be anywhere from several months to a year or more, and the wait time can be even longer for international adoptions.

Henry & Beaver, LLP, can help you through the initial consultation, home studies, and the full adoption process. We can even help you make the first contact to an adoption agency to begin the process or help you arrange a private adoption.

Adoption can also come in the form of legally claiming your spouse’s children as your own. It is a common desire among stepparents to adopt their stepchildren. Our attorneys can help you make this a reality.

We handle all aspects of private adoptions by stepparents, including termination of the biological parent’s rights. Oftentimes, this termination is voluntary. If the biological parent does not consent to the termination, however, we will also explore the possibility of an involuntary termination of rights.

Formal adoption establishes the legal custody rights and responsibilities of the stepmother or stepfather, giving stepparents the right to make important decisions regarding the child’s future. The adoption process also formalizes the child’s inheritance rights. More importantly, adoption can draw families closer together by formalizing the bonds between parent and child. This gives the child a sense of stability and permanence.

At Henry & Beaver, LLP, we have been serving local Pennsylvania parents for more than 100 years. When you contact our law firm, your lawyer will meet with you one-on-one to discuss your situation and help you take the next steps. Your lawyer will get to know your family personally and work with you throughout the entire process.

If you are looking to adopt a child, you found the best law firm for the job. At Henry & Beaver, our experienced family law attorneys will be with you throughout the entire process from the initial contact to the adoption agency to the day you bring your child home. Contact Henry & Beaver to schedule a consultation with Attorneys Heather Eggert or John Whitmoyer. Call 717-274-3644 or fill out our online form to get started.