Individuals and couples who want to adopt a baby or an older child can do so through several different avenues. Adoptions Attorneys in Lake Elsinore provide legal representation to prospective adoptive parents and the birth parents, although each party should be represented by a different lawyer to prevent conflicts of interest.
Methods
Adopting a child can be done through a private agency, through the foster care system, or with a direct agreement between the birth parents and adoptive parents. International adoptions are an alternative, and can be a quicker way of finding an infant or younger child. However, this process tends to be more expensive and complicated. In some instances, a relative has been caring for a child for a long time after the parents abandoned this youngster. The relative and child may want to make their bond legal and official.
Types
There also are different types of adoption that many people are familiar with. The most common method is for the birth mother or both biological parents to relinquish all rights and contact to the adoptive parents. The process may be completed without either party knowing anything about who is on the other side. These are closed adoptions.
Some agencies allow birth parents to choose the adoptive parents from a list of those who have active applications. They may or may not have future contact with each other.
In open adoptions, both parties know the names of one another and can stay in contact. The biological mother or both parents may retain rights to spend time with the child in the future.
Considerations
Adoptions Attorneys in Lake Elsinore help with all of these processes, making sure each person understands the rights they are keeping and giving up. They also must understand the responsibilities and obligations this agreement entails. People who have been waiting a long time to adopt a child may be starry eyed and have unrealistic expectations, especially when bringing an older child into the family or completing an international adoption. The Law Office of Michelle Penna is ready to answer questions and provide legal representation. For more information, visit the website.
