Adoption – Working With an Adoption Lawyer

This article on adoption was originally published in 2014. It has been updated and re-published with updates for 2020.

Reasons You Need to Hire a Lawyer

You’ve made one of the most important decisions of your life. You want to adopt a child. You know in your heart that you will raise and love this child as your own. You are financially, mentally and physically ready to take on this challenge. Becoming a parent is all you think about. This experience can be an exciting, exhilarating event that you will cherish forever. Unfortunately, adopting a baby can also be your worst nightmare if you do not take the time to hire the right adoption lawyer. The adoption process is a delicate endeavor that, if done correctly, will make each step toward parenthood as smooth and as painless as possible. However, in order for things to proceed effortlessly, you cannot just hire any lawyer. You need to hire an adoption lawyer who is well-versed in every nuance of your state’s private or public adoption proceedings to protect yourself from potential and future heartbreak and financial ruin.

Avoiding Legal Problems

As a first-time adoptive parent, you might not be aware of the extent of legal problems that can arise throughout the process of adopting a child. As you enter into the process you should visit authority websites to learn about Georgia adoption laws.

For example, before you receive the child, the birth mother and father must sign a consent to adoption. If they both do not sign this, one or both of them could try to take the child away from you at a later date. This can obviously cause you inconsolable heartbreak. Additionally, before the birth of the child, you might agree to pay all or part of the birth mother’s living and hospital expenses. The birth mother might try to take advantage of your generosity. A regular lawyer might not pay enough attention to this. However, a lawyer will make sure that you do not end up paying for expenses outside of your agreement. Numerous other examples of legal problems arising from adoptions exist. Take the time now to hire the right adoption law firm so that you will save yourself money and heartbreak resulting from substandard legal representation.

The Right Lawyer Properly Evaluates Your Adoption Agency

You might be impressed with your chosen adoption agency. They might dazzle you with good references, professional brochures, and knowledgeable employees. However, while things might begin well, they can often go sour quickly if you do not have an experienced lawyer there to help you uncover important issues. These issues include birth family mental and physical health history and obvious indications that one or both of the birth parents will change their minds after the birth of the child.

Common Challenges Adoptive Parents Face

Some hospital staff member might try to change the mind of the birth parents. Well-meaning family members might also try to do the same. You need to have an adoption lawyer ready to handle these challenges as they arise to ensure that these issues are quickly addressed, and laid to rest before you take the child into your home and your heart.

Learn More About Hiring an Adoption Lawyer

Contact our adoption lawyers today to learn more about adoption laws and the process in Georgia. Our compassionate, experienced attorneys can help you choose the right adoption agency to fulfill your request for becoming a new adoptive parent.