Salisbury Adoption Lawyer

Salisbury Adoption Attorney

If you are hoping to become a parent but cannot biologically do so, adoption is a great option. Adopting a child is a wonderful, life-changing experience. Once you have the child you’ve always been dreaming of, your family will feel more complete. Unfortunately, the adoption process is rarely easy. It can also be costly and overwhelming. Instead of going through the adoption process alone, consider hiring a Salisbury adoption lawyer.

Adoption Requirements

Married couples or single individuals are legally allowed to adopt. To begin the adoption process, a petition to adopt must be filed. If a married couple wishes to adopt a child together, both of their names must be on the petition unless they file a motion to waive that requirement.

Any single person or both adults in a couple must be at least 18 years old to legally adopt, and there must be an age gap between the prospective parents and the child. All prospective parents must be willing to have a background check, which includes an examination of the child abuse registry and their criminal history. This is to ensure the child’s safety.

Furthermore, parents who are adopting a child must prove their ability to financially provide for that child and offer a stable home life. The prospective parents must also take educational classes to prepare for adopting a child.

North Carolina Adoption Laws

In North Carolina, there are several adoption laws that must be followed. For those looking to adopt in Rowan County, it is important to keep these requirements in mind:

• Consent: In most cases, the biological parent’s consent is needed for an adoption to legally take place. This consent may be given freely by their own choice, or they may be forced to give consent by the court.
• Home Study: A home study must take place before the adoption process can proceed. This involves a licensed social worker looking at the home environment, making sure it is safe for a child and will be a place where they can learn, grow, and flourish. An adoption lawyer can help you better prepare for a home study, providing an understanding of the process and all its requirements.
• Post-Placement Visits: These visits take place after the child has been placed with their adoptive parents. The purpose is to see if the child is adjusting well to their new home and that the family is adjusting well to taking in the child.

The Adoption Process

Before starting your adoption journey, it is helpful to be aware of the process in Salisbury, NC. There are several options for adopting a child in this state. If adopting independently, then you may complete the process with the help of an adoption lawyer. Others may choose to adopt through a private adoption agency. Sometimes, an adoption can happen through the foster care system.

Before the process can move forward, the biological parents’ rights must be taken away by the court or ended by the parents’ own choice. When a stepparent or a relative adoption occurs, parental rights can become a little more complex.

Then, several documents must be filled out and filed, such as the adoption petition, a placement agreement, and a communication agreement. The adoptive parents will then obtain all the necessary records pertaining to the child. A post-assessment will then be carried out before the court will finalize the adoption decree.

After filing a petition for adoption, the court may need to schedule a hearing, which will take place within 90 days after the petition was filed. However, if there are no objections to the adoption, then a hearing may not be required.

Closed and Open Adoptions

Closed adoptions involve the adoptive parents-to-be placing their names on a list to adopt a child (in most cases, they are looking to adopt an infant or a toddler). In this instance, the adoptive parents will not know the biological parents’ identities. With open adoptions, the parents who are looking to adopt know who the biological parents are and have background information on them. They even have the ability to meet with the biological parents if they want to.

In most cases, when an adoption takes place within the United States, it is an open adoption. If the adoption is taking place overseas, then it is generally a closed adoption.

Different Types of Adoption

There are many different kinds of adoption. Below are the most common:

• Agency Adoptions: With an agency adoption, the couple or single person wishing to adopt is placed with a child at the adoption agency’s discretion.
• Independent Adoptions: This kind of adoption process involves the biological parents or legal guardians placing their child with the adoptive parents. They will give up their parental rights so that the adoptive parents will have all parental rights.
• Relative Adoptions: Relative adoptions allow biological parents to give their child up to a relative, who will then legally adopt them. This relative can be a grandparent, an uncle, an aunt, a cousin, or a sibling.
• Stepparent Adoptions: This kind of adoption gives a stepparent the opportunity to become a legal parent to their stepchild.
• Adult Adoptions: An adult adoption enables a person to adopt someone who is over the age of 18 and is, therefore, legally considered an adult.
• Foreign Adoptions: A foreign adoption can be either a re-adoption of a child who was previously adopted in another country or an adoption of a child from another country where the adoption process was not completed.

Consult an Adoption Lawyer in Salisbury, NC

Adoption is a great option for those who want to be parents but cannot biologically have a child of their own. It is an experience that will forever change your life, but it is well worth it. After going through the adoption process and accepting a child into your life, your family can feel more complete.

The adoption process can unfortunately be confusing and overwhelming to those who have never gone through it before. Contact Lancaster and St. Louis, PLLC for help with your adoption case.