Adoption
We assist adoptive families in the following areas: step parent adoption, private or independent adoption, international adoption and readoption, agency adoption, adult adoption, same sex and second parent adoption, and foster care adoption.
What are the different types of adoption?
International adoption or readoption
In an international adoption, adoptive parents legalize their relationship with a child who was born in a foreign country. Common sending countries include: South Korea, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Vietnam, Romania, or India. Agencies usually handle the complex international procedures to complete the adoption; whereas the local attorney assists with the "re-adoption" once the child is home so that the adoptive parents may obtain a State birth certificate. The child will be granted U.S. citizenship automatically upon entering the United States.
Step-parent adoption
In a stepparent adoption, the legal parent's spouse adopts their stepchild. When the child's other legal parent consents to the adoption, the process is usually simple. If the other birth parent cannot be found or if he or she refuses to consent or agree to the adoption, there are more procedural requirements to complete.
Relative adoption
In a relative adoption, a member of the child's family wishes to adopt. Grandparents or aunts and uncles may adopt a relative if the birth parents die while the children are minors. Sometimes the adoptions take place when the parents are unable to care for the children for reasons such as incarceration or drug and alcohol abuse.
Agency Adoption
Agencies places children who are legally eligible to be adopted because legal parental rights have been or are in the process of being terminated. Agencies must be licensed and meet all state requirements. Public agencies, such as the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), are state operated agencies responsible for placements of domestic children in foster care. Private agencies may operate domestically or internationally and may be affiliated with other charitable organizations. Agencies often provide services for homestudies and post placement reports.
Second parent or same-sex adoption
In states that have some form of recognition for same-sex relationships, same-sex couples may adopt children together and one partner may adopt the child of the other partner. Rules about same-sex couples vary from state to state.
Adult adoption
In an adult adoption, the adopting parent wishes to create a legal parent child relationship with a person over the age of 18. Adult adoptions may be stepparent adoptions that did not occur when the child was a minor, but now they want to complete it in order to grant inheritance rights. Some pursue an adult adoption because the "child," now an adult, can sign his or her own consent and therefore the other legal parent can not object.
Independent adoption
In a private, or independent, adoption, birthparents and adoptive parents arrange for the adoption directly. With the wide use of the internet, many pregnant birthmothers are identifying prospective adoptive parents on websites where the parent has posted a profile. An attorney is typically hired to guide the legal procedure and handle the paperwork since this is a more intensive process.
What is an open adoption?
An adoption may be "open" or "closed" or something in between. An open adoption means that there is some degree of communication or relationship between the birth family, the adoptive parents, and the child. The communication may be in the form of pictures, letters, gifts, or in person visits. Exchanges of information may be made directly or through a third party. In Washington State, a "communication agreement" filed with the Court memorializes the agreements that are made.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption?
A social worker, who prepares the homestudy or post placement reports, will meet with the family and child. In any adoption, a child over the age of fourteen (14) must also consent to the adoption.
| Why do I practice adoption law? I went to law school with adoption law as a priority. I am committed to serving children who need families. I have served as a volunteer with Holt Orphanages in South Korea where I provided physical therapy and activity support to physically and mentally challenged infants, children, and adults whose chances of adoption are remote due to their disabilities. |
I have a very hands-on approach with my adoption cases so that I can support my clients throughout the process. I can provide mediation, legal coaching and coaching, unbundled services such as communication agreement review, and full legal representation.