Helping a family with an adoption is one of the more pleasant duties that a Family Law Attorney Northern Virginia gets to participate in. There are two ways for you to adopt a child in Virgina. The first option is through an agency and the second is through a non-agency. In either case, you’ll want to hire a lawyer to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
An agency adoption typically occurs through a local department of social services. However, there are state licensed facilities that can also help you with agency sanctioned adoptions. In these cases, parental rights have already been terminated and some of the legal hassles involved with the adoption will have already been dealt with (such as a parent contesting the termination of their parental rights).
When you adopt without the help of an agency, however, there are quite a few more legal hurdles. This is because the adoption process is usually started by the birth parents or the legal guardians of the child in question, rather than the State of Virginia.
As such, it’s in your best interest to have a Family Law Attorney in Northern Virginia involved from the very beginning. A family lawyer already knows everything that needs to be done to ensure that the adoption is legal and that the birth parents can’t contest the adoption after you have brought the child home with you.
What’s more, you may want to have a family lawyer meet with the birth parents on your behalf so that your identity is protected. Your lawyer can ensure that the necessary details of your life are revealed, such as a lack of criminal record, solid finances, etc. without revealing your name or where you live. In the end, your anonymity can protect both you and your soon to be child.
The lawyers at Goldenberg & Phillips Northern Virginia can help you through your adoption proceedings. Their staff has helped many families before you and know exactly what to do to make the process as easy as possible. If you’re interest in adopting a child, give them a call so that they can start the process with you.
