Adoption

Adoption is a legal process whereby an individual or individuals assume parental responsibility for a minor child. The legal process transfers all responsibilities, rights, and obligations of legal parents onto the adoptive parents. It is looked upon as a positive and even wonderful experience for all parties involved and yet it entails complex legal proceedings and processes all of which need to be handled by your Quinn Family Law attorney.

Your attorney will handle all adoption related legal issues in order to make certain that your rights are protected and the transferred rights of the adopted are respected and handled properly. It is also crucial for legal counsel to review all adoption paperwork to ensure that the proceeding is not only legal, but also enforced in any court where any related party may claim standing and dispute the adoption. This is important to not only ensure the adoption is legally binding, but also to make certain that it cannot be legally unraveled at a later date, something that can create intense emotional distress for both the adoptive parents and child.

There are close to a dozen different types of adoption that are common within the United States. Each of these come with there own applicable laws and specific procedures that are necessary in order to make the adoption complete. The following is a partial list of the types of adoptions where the Quinn Family Law firm can provide counsel:


Domestic Independent Adoptions.
Adoptions that are not facilitated by an adoption agency.

Domestic Agency Adoptions.
Adoptions represented by an adoption agency and even though there is agency representation, it is still advisable that a parent have their own Quinn Family Law attorney protecting their interests.

Interstate Adoptions.
Adoptions that cross state lines.

International Adoptions.
Adoptions of children from other countries.

Relative Adoptions.
An adoption where a relative of the child becomes the new parent.

Stepparent Adoptions.
This is when a stepparent wants to acquire full parental rights and responsibilities for their current step children.

Single Prent Adoption.
This type of adoption is becoming more common.

Open Adoption.
This is a special adoption arrangement where the biological parent is known to the adoptive parents and to the adopted child. The entire arrangement is 'open' and not kept secret.

Foster Care Adoption.
This is when a Foster parent wants to take full parental rights for a child that has been assigned to them through the Foster Care program.


While this list is far from including all adoption related legal matters it is a starting point in understanding that even the simplest adoption involves complex issues and having a Quinn Family Law attorney represent your interests is important in order to make certain all legal processes and procedures have been followed.

The relative complexity of adoption law stems from the fact that unlike other legal issues, this area of legal practice actually involves the transfer of a child's rights to a party other than their biological parents. Any issues that involve transferring individual rights should be a complex process. Having legal representation when handling such an issue should be mandatory as it involves the future well being of a child being placed and trusted into the hands of the adoptive parents.