AARKS collaborates with your adoption agency to minimize the stress in your adoption. Whether you are an adoptive family or an expectant mother; and no matter where you are in your adoption plan, a team comprised of a skilled adoption attorney and a reputable adoption agency significantly lightens your burden. While both adoption agencies and adoption attorneys provide emotional support; outreach programs; and generalized information about the adoption process, many of their roles are distinct.
Adoption attorneys’ main duties are to provide sound legal advice and guidance through the adoption process and to serve as an advocate for their clients’ interests. For an adoptive family, this might involve issues regarding lawful and ethical ways to conduct outreach; preparing documents for court hearings regarding the termination of the birthfather’s rights; and negotiating significant elements of the relationship between the adoptive family and birth family. For an expectant mother, the adoption attorney’s job is to advise her of her rights during each phase of the adoption; advocate for her during negotiations with the adoptive family and to ensure that her rights and interests are protected when interacting with the other professionals involved in the adoption.
Meanwhile, an adoption agency tends to be a slightly larger entity that provides a separate support structure for all members of the adoption triad. For adoptive parents, the adoption agency is pivotal in completing the home study, which renders one eligible to have a child placed with them. The adoption agency also conducts post-placement visits and creates reports which recommend to the court that the adoption proceed. When working with expectant women in agency adoptions, the adoption agency is responsible for filling out the necessary relinquishment paperwork.
For more information about how AARKS can work with your adoption agency call today (415) 200-3500, or e-mail info@aarkslaw.com
