Adoption Attorney

Adopting a child is one of the most joyous events a family can experience. Without the help of an expert who has gone through the process before, however, the experience can quickly deteriorate into a nightmare.

The process of adoption is by no means simple. From selecting the right agency, to filing out the correct paperwork, and making sure every last contract has been signed—adoptive parents are willing to spare no expense when it comes to ensuring the safety of their new child.

One of the best ways a family can ensure this safety is by hiring an adoption attorney to help guide them through the complex process. Not only can a qualified lawyer help parents review all adoption contracts and paperwork, but he can also provide advice, explain the legal rights of the birth parents, and asses the risk involved in the adoption before a final agreement has been reached.

How to Find an Adoption Attorney

Experts from the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys recommend hiring a lawyer with experience handling adoptions as soon as a family has made the decision to adopt. Finding an attorney can be as easy as asking for referrals from friends or contacting the academy itself, which provides attorney recommendations to families in need.

Once a handful of attorneys have been selected, it is best to meet with a few and find the best fit. Some important factors to consider include how the attorney’s fees are structured, what services he provides, how much of the practice is dedicated to adoption-related issues, and how many specific adoption cases the attorney has overseen. Unless the attorney was found through the recommendation of a close family member or friend, it is also advised that clients ask for a list of references.

Although there are no “correct” answers when it comes to an attorney consultation, it is generally advised that families seek a lawyer with at least 10 to 20 years of experience in the field and with at least 50% of his practice devoted to adoption-related cases.

Parents who are concerned about the future appearance of birth mothers in their adoptive child’s life should be sure to inquire with their attorney about what provisions can be put in place for the future. For example, will the attorney’s office accept calls from the birth parents years down the road, do they have a toll-free phone number or accept collect calls, and what will happen should the birth parent call when the attorney himself is out of the office—is another qualified professional available to handle such matters?

Eventually, it will come down to finding the right fit when selecting an attorney, since each couple or family will feel more of a connection with one attorney than the rest.

How Can an Adoption Attorney Help?

Although they are most known for handling paperwork and contracts, adoption attorneys can actually fulfill any number of roles throughout the complex process.

Because laws vary by state, there is no one set standard for what adoption lawyers can do for clients. However, in general, attorneys can help clients choose which type of adoption process would be the best fit for their needs—such as open versus closed or international adoption. In international adoption cases, specifically, the process of filing the correct paperwork for immigration can be nearly impossible without a highly trained professional.

An attorney can also serve as a go-between when it comes to the adoptive and birth parents. Because specifics of the adoption process can be tricky and frustrating, it can be invaluable to have a knowledgeable third party who can help settle disputes and hammer out the contractual specifics of the adoption agreement.

Later on in life, the attorneys used to guide the adoption can be of service to grown children looking to find their birth parents, to birth families looking to contact their grown child, and to adoptive families looking for medical records and information for their child.

Effectively, having a qualified adoption attorney puts adoptive parents on a level playing field with everyone else—from the agencies to the courts—and ensures that the family does not get tricked into entering an unfavorable or immoral adoption agreement.

How Much Does an Adoption Attorney Cost?

The costs associated with hiring an adoption attorney can vary wildly depending on how billing is done, whether an hourly or flat fee is charged, and whether a retainer is required in advance of any work. Much of the decision of how much an attorney charges will be determined by the complexity of the case, with international adoptions generally costing more in attorney’s fees than other cases.

While it may be enticing to hire the attorney who charges the least, this can ultimately cost families much more in the long run if that attorney is not qualified and thus does not file the correct paperwork on time and following legal ordinances.