Adoption: What You Need To Know
Not everybody in Clearwater, Tampa Bay or Palm Harbor is aware that hiring an adoption attorney can make for a speedier process and a more positive outcome. Whether you aim to take one of your grandchildren as your own, formalize the existing parental relationship with your stepchildren or apply with an international agency, a lawyer can provide assistance.
With so many types of adoptions, it is not necessarily as simple as signing up, being approved and welcoming a new member to the family. Instead of navigating the complicated statutes yourself, hire legal representation.
How An Adoption Attorney Can Help
Adopting a new member of the family can be a thrilling and exciting time for all involved. Welcoming a new son or daughter into your lives is an amazing adventure, and while ideally, nothing will go wrong during the process, it is rare that no snags occur. Too often, paperwork is completed incorrectly, causing delays and even canceled adoptions.
Also, issues may arise such as the birth mother changing her mind at the last minute or a biological parent interfering with the process. It is best to prepare with an excellent offense, and having an adoption attorney on your side can smooth the process for everyone involved.
Complications do not end after the birth of your child, and you might feel like your patience is being tried. A legal counselor can serve as the advocate you need to face hurdles like gaining consent from the birth mother or tracking down the birth father. In some cases, the birth parents change their mind, and it is crucial that you have an advocate who knows the ins and outs of Florida Law to assist you.
Closed Vs. Open Adoption: What’s The Difference?
Regardless of the specific type of adoption you plan to pursue in Clearwater, Tampa Bay or Palm Harbor, it will end up either being classified as “open” or “closed” depending on a number of restrictions that are outlined in the agreement.
Open adoptions allow the birth parents to maintain certain levels of visitation and contact with the child, even though the legal ties are severed. This allows the child to maintain a healthy relationship with their biological parent and can be very beneficial for the growth and development of your son or daughter. This may take the form of letters, phone calls, visits or pictures.
A closed adoption ensures that no contact is to be made between the child and the biological parent once the process has been finalized. No identifying information is shared, although necessary medical and family history may be provided to the adoptive parents. Even in a closed adoption, the parties can register with the Florida Adoption Registry, which would give the child the option of learning about his or her birth parents at a later date.
Types Of Adoptions
In the state of Florida, there are various ways to adopt. An adoption attorney in Clearwater, Tampa Bay or Palm Harbor can assist you with the following varieties:
Relative/Grandparent
Relatives, most often grandparents, can adopt children whose parents passed away, or have been deemed unfit to parent. This may be due to arrest, abusive behavior, alcohol or drugs, or mental illness. When a relative adopts the child, they are given full legal authority over them, just as their biological parents had.
Stepparent
If a mother or father of a child remarries, the new stepparent can adopt the child and legally have a say in their education, medical care, religious upbringing and more. This is common for mixed families in the greater Tampa Bay area.
Formalization Of Foreign Adoption
For Florida families that reach out to a foreign country to adopt, having an adoption attorney to help with paperwork, visas and more is essential. This process can be complicated and expensive, and the importance of having a professional working with you to ensure that the requirements of both the United States and the country of birth of the child in question cannot be understated.
Private Identified
Forgoing the use of an agency is not as common, but many choose to go this route if they know someone on a personal level who is considering putting a child into adoptive care. Hiring an adoption attorney in this case is critical because you want to make sure that everything is above-board and that no repercussions will occur later down the road if a party attempts to renege on the agreement.
Adult
An adult over the age of 18 can be adopted by another adult as long as both are in consent. Whether this is for inheritance, personal relationship, the rediscovery of birth parents, or other purposes such as permanent caregiving, an adoption attorney in Clearwater, Tampa Bay or Palm Harbor can help ensure that everyone’s rights are protected.
To Learn More, Call Today
An adoption attorney in Clearwater, Tampa Bay or Palm Harbor can help families sit down and weigh the pros and cons of each type to help them discuss their options. Once the decision is made, your lawyer will ensure that your wishes are upheld and that all the paperwork necessary is completed in full. To schedule a consultation, call our office at 727-614-0070 today or fill out our contact form.