Columbia Adoption attorney

Our Family Law Firm Can Help You Navigate the Adoption Process

Adopting a baby or a child involves assuming the parenting responsibilities, and it can take place either domestically or internationally. Many people consider adoption as a means to start or add to their family. It can also be an emotionally exhausting process. The entire process can take anywhere from several months to several years, and it can be complicated by the circumstances of the parent or parents putting the child up for adoption. No matter your specific situation, our adoption attorney at Rutter and Sleeth Law Offices, can help you.

Types of Adoption in Missouri

Adoption can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. A brother might want to adopt his sibling if he feels stable enough to care for the child, and their parents are no longer in the picture. A stepparent might wish to adopt a stepchild to create a stronger bond between the two. A couple who is unable or unwilling to conceive a child might consider adoption as an excellent way to expand their family.

Adoptions can come in many shapes and sizes, including:

• Kinship/relative: When a member of a family adopts a related child, it is considered a kinship or relative adoption. If a child needs to be placed in foster care, a relative is often the first option considered by social workers if the child cannot be reunited with his or her parent.
• Stepparent: Stepparent adoption is one of the most common types of adoptions. The consent of both biological parents is required for this to occur.
• Open: In this type of adoption, birth parents keep in contact with the adoptive parents and their child.
• Closed: Closed adoptions are rarer now than they used to be, but they still occur, particularly with international adoptions. The adoptive parents usually will not know where a child came from or who the child’s biological parents were.
• Domestic: Domestic adoption happens in the country in which the adoptive parents live. For example, a U.S. couple who adopts a U.S.-born child is participating in domestic adoption.
• International: International adoptions occur when the adoptive parents and the child are two different nationalities. This process can be legally tricky, which is why it’s best to consult an experienced adoption lawyer regarding your case.

Get Started on the Process Today

If you’re not sure where to begin, give our compassionate Columbia adoption attorneys a call. We have more than 60 years of combined legal experience to offer your family law case. Our family law legal team has handled the simplest to the most complex family cases, and we would love the opportunity to guide you through the adoption process.