Sarasota Adoption Attorney
Adoption is a time of joy and celebration, but it does come with its own set of complications and headaches. It is not common to associate adoptions with lawyers. However, having a lawyer who understands the intricacies will smooth the process for all parties involved. An experienced Sarasota adoption attorney will be able to guide you through the steps such as having a home visit, file the appropriate paperwork, represent you in court, and advise you on what expenses to expect. If you are considering giving your child up for adopting, or adopting a child into your family, our experienced Sarasota adoption attorneys at HD Law Partners are here to help you begin the process.
Becoming the Legal Guardian of a Child
A finalized adoption impacts the lives of the child, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Florida Statute 63.032 defines adoption as, “the act of creating the legal relationship between parent and child where it did not exist, thereby declaring the child to be legally the child of the adoptive parents and their heir at law and entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the obligations of a child born to such adoptive parents in lawful wedlock.” While the adoptive parents become legally responsible for supporting the child as if it were their own, there are times when the birth parents may still be involved through visitations or communication. These types of adoptions are called open adoptions.
In Florida there are four specific categories of open adoptions:
- The entity adoption – an agency or intermediary facilitates these adoptions;
- The step-parent adoption;
- The close relative adoption; and
- The adult adoption.
The laws and procedures that must be followed for a successful adoption can be overwhelming for individuals, which is why having a knowledgeable lawyer on hand can take away much of the stress. Before a judge will finalize an adoption the following people need to provide their consent:
- The birth mother;
- The birth father if he has legal parental rights;
- Any minor who is over 12 years old when being adopted;
- Any person who is lawfully entitled to custody; and
- The court if the current guardians don’t have the authority to consent to the adoption.
HD Law Partners can assist you in getting consent. For instance, if the father was not married to the mother, determining his legal rights as a biological father depends on several other Florida laws. Similarly, we can help in adoptions taking place between states or from overseas. In 2015 the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs reported 250 incoming adoptions from other countries to Florida. 39 of those adoptions were to be finalized within the United States and the remaining 211 were finalized abroad. Federal law becomes applicable in these cases which also makes them more complex.
Contact Our Experienced Sarasota Adoption Attorneys Today
Contact the experienced Sarasota Adoption Attorneys at HD Law Partners today to discuss how we can help you with your adoption plans and preparation. We can offer advice on a wide array of topics and potential issues that may arise, and help you prepare for a flawless adoption experience
