Adoption is a broad term that encompasses a variety of scenarios, but most importantly, it creates a family unit and permanency for a child.
Some of the types of adoptions that AARKS can assist you with are:
- Domestic Newborn Adoption
- Step-Parent Adoption
- Second-Parent Adoption
- International Adoption
- Adult Adoption
- Legal Guardianship
What Can AARKS Do For My Family?
The attorneys and staff at AARKS are equipped to assist your family with the following:
- Provide you with an unbiased explanation of adoption methods and resources, and help you develop a legally secure plan.
- Assess the legal risks involved, including 1) determining what costs are legally permissible, and 2) ensuring that the birthparents’ rights are legally terminated before placement is finalized.
- Review and negotiate adoption contracts to ensure that your interests are served.
- Clarify your options for post-placement arrangements, with the birthparent(s), and draft or review an agreement to ensure that your interests, and those of the child, are served.
AARKS provides legal services for all types of adoption, including agency, independent, international and relative adoptions. In addition to working independently, AARKS also collaborates with other adoption professionals who help their clients reach their adoption goal. The practice also assists birthmothers interested in making adoption plans by connecting them with the services they are legally entitled to.
Why Work With Attorneys?
Even when prospective adoptive parents are working with an agency, they should consider working with a knowledgeable attorney. Adoption laws are primarily governed by each state’s specific laws and statutes — an attorney can advise you of your legal rights and the possible risks you may face in an adoption. At a minimum, an attorney should be retained to represent the adopting parents in a domestic adoption proceeding after the child has been placed.
