Whether you are looking to build your family through adoption, are placing a child for adoption, or are dealing with legal issues related to an upcoming, ongoing or already completed adoption, Slovensky Law provides compassionate, high-quality legal representation to individuals involved in every aspect of the adoption process.
Virginia Adoption Attorney
Guiding You Through the Process
Adoption laws are complex, and it is essential that clients seek legal advice and representation from an experienced and qualified adoption attorney early in the process.
Slovensky Law, Guiding you through the process
Adoption is a process that involves very specific rules and procedures, and adoption law is one area of family law that can be particularly difficult to navigate without legal assistance. There are many types of adoption, each with their own set of procedures, making adoption a complicated process.
Adoption procedures can be confusing both for the biological parents and the adoptive parents. All parties to an adoption case should be informed about their rights, how the adoption system works, and how best to keep the child’s best interests protected. Adoption is often an experience that results in the happiest of endings, and with the help of a knowledgeable adoption lawyer the road to a new family can be made clearer.
It is important that you have a basic knowledge of adoption, regardless of whether you are welcoming a child into your family or securing a new family who will provide a good life for your birth child.
At first, the adoption process can seem very invasive (such as home studies) to you and your family. This is where we step in. Not only will we educate you about the adoption process, we will make certain you are aware of what your role is in each of these steps.
Types of Adoptions in Virginia
All adoptions fall into one of two categories:
- Agency placement – An adoption agency helps place a child with adoptive parents.
- Parental placement – The birth parents grant custody of the child to the chosen adoptive parents.
Other types of adoptions:
- International adoption – A Virginia Order of Adoption and a birth certificate may be obtained when adopting a child from another country. It is essential to ensure that all laws and regulations, both domestic and foreign, are honored throughout the process.
- Step-parent adoption – When a parent remarries, the new spouse can legally adopt their spouse’s children. If both birth parents agree to the adoption, and the child has lived in the home for over three years, a home visit can be avoided.
- Foster parent adoption – This is similar to step-parent adoption, but involves foster parents legally adopting the foster children they take into their homes.
- Interstate adoption – The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children must be observed when a child is adopted across state lines.
- Close-relative adoptions – When a child has lived in the home of a close family member that is a prospective adoptive parent, they are able to be adopted by that close relative easily if the birth parent agrees to the adoption. However, without consent, a home visit is required and, if the time-frame is less than two years, it needs to be taken to court.
For more information contact Slovensky Law today!
Adoption laws are complex, and it is essential that clients seek legal advice and representation from an experienced and qualified adoption attorney early in the process. Whether you are just thinking about adopting a child, interested in pursuing a step-parent adoption, close-relative adoption, or are a party to a court proceeding, contacting an adoption attorney is the first step to clearly understanding state, national, and international laws and requirements, and confidently navigating the adoption process.
Adoption is often an experience that results in the happiest of endings, and with the help of a knowledgeable adoption lawyer the road to a new family can be made clearer.
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