Costs vary depending on the type of adoption you seek. An experienced adoption attorney can help you make decisions to streamline the process to make adopting a child more affordable.
The amount of time an adoption takes depends on the circumstances, but typically a prospective parent can expect the adoption process to take anywhere from several months to a couple of years. This provides time to complete a home study, file petitions, and negotiate any details unique to your case.
Adoption is a complex legal process
It is beneficial to seek the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable Wisconsin adoption lawyer whether you are a stepparent seeking to adopt your spouse’s child or are interested in a private adoption.
There are a variety of adoptions permitted in the state of Wisconsin including private or independent adoptions, agency adoptions, stepparent adoptions, relative adoptions, foster care (public) adoptions, and foreign adoptions. Those who wish to adopt may include single people or married couples, stepparents, and same sex couples who may adopt children whose parents have given up or had their parental rights terminated, children of deceased parents, or step children if the other parent is deceased, absent, or has terminated parental rights.
A Closer Look at Private Adoption
Private or independent adoption begins when prospective adopting parents and birth parents locate one another through mutual friends, relatives or acquaintances or through private advertisements online or in newspapers. Private adoptions allow expectant mothers and adoptive parents greater flexibility in finding and forming a relationship with one another and are often more cost effective when compared to agency adoptions. Private or independent adoptions require the help of an adoption attorney to complete necessary legal steps to ensure the adoption is completed in accordance with state laws.
Step parent adoptions involve the spouse of someone with a child seeking to obtain legal rights and responsibilities for the child in their care allowing them to take part in decisions related to the child’s welfare and upbringing. Stepparent adoption can also protect the rights of the stepparent and child in the event the marriage ends or a spouse dies or becomes incapacitated. Adopting a stepchild can bring extraordinary benefits to the lives of the step child, the stepparent, and other family members. Our experienced adoption attorneys can assist families with the step parent adoption process.
Contact Our Waukesha Wisconsin Adoption Attorneys for Help
If you are interested in adopting a child, start the process by visiting with an experienced Wisconsin adoption attorney who can provide you with more information and point you to the best resources in your local area. If you are a step parent considering the adoption of a step child, an experienced attorney can help you understand the process, prepare and file the necessary court documents to its conclusion.
Adopting a child is an exciting time for a family. Adoption law attorney Jane E. Probst has decades of experience guiding adoptive parents through entire process. Probst Law Offices offers free consultations to be able to gain an understanding of your goals and to provide you with guidance and information so that you can decide the best course of action for your situation. To speak with an adoption attorney call (414) 210-3135 or contact us online.