F. LAKHANI, ATTORNEY AT LAW
361-993-1313
Types of Adoptions
Adoption - An Overview
Adoption is a way of forming a legal parent-child relationship. Through adoption, a parent (other than the birthparent) becomes legally responsible for the child's physical, material, and emotional well-being. Adoption has changed dramatically in the past decade and is gaining popularity. If you are interested in adopting a child, you should contact an experienced adoption attorney in your state. Adoption attorneys specialize in adoptions and are well-versed in your state's adoption laws.
Adoption - Law
For the most part, adoption law is state law. All 50 states have statutory laws that govern adoptions. Each state's laws on adoption, while similar, apply in particular to adoptions that occur within its state.
Adoption - Various Types
There are many types of adoption. The most common distinction in types of adoption is between "domestic" and "international." Domestic adoptions are adoptions by U.S. citizens of U.S.-born children; international adoptions are adoptions by U.S. citizens of children born in another country. Within these categories are a number of other distinctions. The domestic adoption of an infant is usually accomplished by the pairing of birth parents with adoptive parents. Adoption of older children usually takes place through the state or county foster care system or state child protective office. These children have been placed in foster care because they have been orphaned or because their parents' parental rights were terminated after a finding of abuse or neglect.
Stepchild adoptions, like other adoptions between family members, are unlike traditional adoptions. A person who marries into a family with children may choose to remain the stepparent, or may want to take the step of adopting the spouse's biological children. Sometimes a grandparent or aunt or uncle will adopt a child whose biological mother and father can no longer raise the child.
An attorney facilitates all of the legal procedures necessary to complete your adoption. Whatever kind of adoption you are interested in, you will need an experienced adoption attorney.
