Adoption Lawyers

Adoption, the Right Way

At any given time, there are thousands of children hoping for forever homes. You can become one of the exceptional 2% of Americans who adopt a child in need.

Adoption is a transformative experience for your family. While the end result is incredibly rewarding, it can be a confusing and drawn-out road. Those who adopt often find that the process is much more than just a single legal proceeding — it can be a lifelong affair.

With so many complex legal issues to consider when adopting, it’s important to have a lawyer who has detailed knowledge of family creation laws in your area. The attorneys at Gevurtz Menashe have extensive experience helping families in Oregon and Washington to successfully adopt children. We can do the same for you.

For more information on adoptions and the adoption process, we recommend reading our comprehensive guide, How to Adopt a Child in Oregon & Washington.
 

Types of Adoptions We Help With

Adoption policies and practices can vary a great deal from one state to the next, depending on the type of adoption you choose. Each form of adoption has its own particular requirements, adoption contract nuances, and state and federal laws to follow.

Your Gevurtz Menashe adoption lawyer can explain the finer details of the different kinds of adoption. They’ll also answer any questions you may have and can offer guidance on which adoption approach best suits your circumstances. For a cross-jurisdictional adoption, we can even help you coordinate and communicate with the other party’s attorney. 

Private or Independent Adoptions

A private adoption is one that doesn’t go through an adoption or placement agency or rely on a predetermined formal process. The birth parent(s) personally select adoptive parents for their child. Custody is also directly transferred to the adoptive parents without agency involvement.

This type of adoption can be more affordable and easier to get started, but it also has its own set of challenges. For instance, some adoptive families may find it harder to connect with the child they’ve chosen because they weren’t carefully matched through an agency.

A private adoption attorney can mediate between parties to facilitate the process and create a well-structured adoption contract that benefits everyone involved.

Agency-Assisted Adoptions

Agency-assisted adoption is an adoption process in which an organization, such as a social service agency, assists birth parents and adoptive parents who are considering adoption.

The agency will work with adoptive parents to identify a child who may be a good fit for their family and help them prepare for the adoption process. The agency may provide counseling and other services to the couple before, during, and after the adoption.

There are many benefits to using an agency-assisted adoption process including increased chance of suitable placement, reduced stress associated with adopting on your own, and support from an experienced adoption professional. However, adoption agencies typically have a more regimented process and cost much more.

Your adoption lawyer can help you navigate the requirements and steps unique to agency adoptions.

Out-of-State Adoptions

This is a common situation, especially when a child has relatives who live in another state and want to adopt. The adoption process is similar to an in-state adoption. However, adoption laws vary from place to place. This means that there may be certain steps or requirements for the adoption that might not otherwise exist.

Your Gevurtz Menashe attorney will guide you through the process and work with the adoption lawyer in the other state.

Intercultural or International Adoptions

An international or intercountry adoption is when you adopt a child from a country other than your own. You'll go through appropriate legal channels to ensure a legitimate adoption and then the child comes to live with you. This kind of adoption accounts for about 26% of all adoptions in the US each year.

When a child is adopted from a different cultural group as their parents, it's referred to as an intercultural adoption.

There are many benefits to international and intercultural adoption — like placing children in homes that'll provide them with permanence and stability, helping them find the love and support they need, and fostering global understanding and sympathy. It can be a great way to expand your horizons as well as your family.

We'll help you understand the implications of these practices in your specific case. We can also work with an immigration lawyer to ensure that you comply with all relevant regulations

Step-Parent Adoptions

A step-parent adoption is a legal process through which a person adopts their spouse's or partner's child as their own. This type of adoption is sometimes called second-parent adoption or co-parent adoption.

This arrangement can be beneficial for both the child and the adoptive parent. In addition to providing legal security, it can foster feelings of permanence and legitimacy. There may be financial advantages, too.

A step-parent adoption can be completed in a variety of ways, but most commonly it involves court proceedings in which the step-parent petitions for adoption and the step-child consents to the adoption. It’s usually necessary to get consent from the non-custodial parent before adopting a step-child.

Foster Care Adoptions

Foster care adoption is the process of adopting a child who's been placed in foster care by a government or social services agency. The child may be adopted by their foster parents or a different adoptive family. There are about 400,000 children in foster care, with approximately 117,000 of them up for adoption.

Courts typically give adoption priority to relatives and people with a pre-existing relationship to the child. However, anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can pursue adopting a foster child.

Looking for Other Services?

Frequently, when going through an adoption process, you’ll find you have additional legal needs. Gevurtz Menashe is adept in all areas of family law, estate planning, and collaborative law. As such, we’re able to help you with important matters like:

• Wills and trusts
• Assisted reproduction contracts
• Legal name changes
• Charitable planning
• Probate administration
• Dispute resolution

Don’t hesitate to ask us about how we can assist your family.

 

Gevurtz Menashe, Family Law Attorneys Specializing in Adoptions

Book a consultation with a Gevurtz Menashe adoption attorney today. The sooner you start the adoption process, the sooner you can expand your family circle.

To connect with a family law adoption lawyer in Oregon or Washington, please call our Portland (503-227-1515) or Vancouver (360-823-0410) office or submit the contact form below. We’ll be in touch with you soon.