Community Discussions
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Indy Area Adoption Lawyers
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Looking for a local lawyer/law office to start the adoption process for my stepson. Tried filing myself but was told because a minor is involved we needed an attorney. Any recommendations?
Top Comment:
Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C. - Indiana Adoption in Carmel
Adoption through agency or attorney?
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So my husband and I I are in the early research stages of adoption. We’ve read and listened to many stories regarding agencies and attorneys. What are the differences between both and which one would best represent us as adoptive parents? Any advice would help on either side! Thanks!
Top Comment: Imo, adopting using only an attorney, without an ethical agency involved at all, should almost never be legal. Use an ethical, full-service agency that provides support to parents regardless of whether they place and that supports fully open adoption with direct contact between all parties.
Step-parent adoption without lawyer (CA)
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There’s just a lot of background on this but here’s what I got.
I got pregnant with my daughter after being with my ex for about 2 months. The relationship quickly revolved around the pregnancy and we separated very shortly after. There was a small incident of kidnapping, a protective order, a CPS investigation and a wellness check from our local police department. All before I was able to file for sole custody.
We don’t get along, it was an extremely toxic and abusive relationship. We really never should’ve been together on the first place, when I really sit and think about it.
The court order came down that I had sole physical and legal custody and he was granted supervised visitation. He tried to move his brother here to be the supervision, which I never agreed to.
He was in legal trouble here and once off probation he immediately left back to Florida (his home state)
In any case, my husband and I have been together since she was 14 months old and she turned 11 years yesterday. She had no idea he was not her biological father due to the pervious paragraph. We’ve been wanting my husband to adopt her for years but a few years back my ex got into more trouble which landed him in prison for 7 years. Only in the last couple of years has he really started to make an effort and she wants nothing to do with him.
Is it possible to navigate a step-parent adoption without a lawyer? They’re just so expensive and we can’t seem to get the money together. My ex is due out in February and while I think he’s going to drop off the face of the planet yet again, I would feel so much better if we started this process sooner rather than later.
Any thoughts or advice is really truly appreciated
Top Comment:
Please tell your kid the truth about her bio father even if he’s a creep. Allow her the choice of being adopted, don’t take the choice from her. Lying to your kid for years is damaging and weird.
Stepchild adoption without lawyer
Main Post: Stepchild adoption without lawyer
LGBTQ Adoption Lawyers
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Hey team, my wife gave birth to our daughter four months ago, I'm her parent on her birth certificate. Does anyone know any good lawyers for me to legally adopt her? I'm scared our marriage will be dissolved and the government won't recognize me as her parent.
Top Comment:
If you are on the birth certificate why would you need to adopt? You would still be her parent if the marriage was dissolved, either from divorce or something else, right?
Starting to call adoption lawyers!
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My wife is almost 22 weeks pregnant with our first child - a daughter! 🥹 To say the least- I am terrified for all of us and our future as a family... (this is not a full political post - just a let’s get stuff done post!)
So I am starting to get in contact with LGBTQ+ friendly lawyers to get the ball rolling now on adopting my own child when she is born in March!
If any of you are in the same boat as I am - in a state/location where a birth certificate isn’t enough - start getting your ducks in a row! See if your work place offers legal coverage, ask them for a list of lawyers, TRIPLE check that the lawyer is LGBTQ friendly!
tbh - we don’t know what the future is going to look like for queer folx so let’s get ahead of the mayhem as much as we can! feel your feelings, then get shit done!! this is what I can control right now - so I am!
Top Comment:
This is the way! I'm in a similar boat. I'd also throw in that while you're doing all of that, might as well do your estate planning, living will, POA, and advanced directives. Make multiple copies, have them notarized, and keep them handy. I wouldn't wait to see how bad things might get - protect yourself and your family before there is a run on legal services.
We're in the middle of an ICPC with my husband's baby niece, but the baby has an attorney??
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So my husband and I were asked by AZ state to take in my husband's infant niece for kinship foster then adoption. We accepted and are in the process of the licensing atm.
At one of our last updates from the case worker, she said the baby's attorney was saying maybe the baby should stay in AZ with the current non family foster home.
My question is... why is there an attorney for the baby? Is that normal? The state wants to send her here with her family. Don't they determine what is best for the child? I don't understand because I've never heard of this before.
Top Comment:
It's called a Guardian Ad Litem, and yes it's normal. The GAL is an attorney assigned/hired to specifically represent the best interests of the child in a legal preceding. Understand, however, that the GAL is appointed by the Court, but isn't of the court: they don't have any more say than the other parties.
The reason for this is that in some family law/adversarial proceedings the best (think: financial) interests of the parent/guardian aren't actually in the best interests of the child. However courts have a preference for family placements rather than fosters, so unless there's an actual reason going on here you're probably just dealing with a shiny new baby lawyer that doesn't know enough to know what they don't know.
Adoption advice needed
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Hello, we are a young family that are looking to adopt due to certain circumstances that prevent us from having a biological child, but more we look into it more confusing it gets. Maybe someone can direct us to a site that is reliable , or any kind of information would be helpful. 🙏🏾
Top Comment:
Reach out to a family attorney and get them involved early. This is a legal first and foremost.
Reach out to Shailey at sgblawtx.com. She is a family law specialist and has helped multiple families with their adoptions.
Legal? advice for international adoption
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I don’t believe my adoption to have been done correctly.
According to my adoptive parents (American citizens) I was adopted at birth in Mexico but had my birth certificate typed up as if my adopted mother had given birth to me and they are my biological parents. They tell me I have no original birth certificate, my mothers cousin worked at the clinic I supposedly was born at and aided her in this process so that it would look on paper as if I was their child. They spent the next months in Mexico to help me gain my naturalization certificate as an American citizen born abroad. I was adopted in the late 90’s.
I was not told about my adoption until I was 19. I did not start my search until a few years after. After being told, anytime I would try and ask questions I would get shut down and met with defensive and even offensive comments. They would say not to look into it because it could potentially ‘put them in jail.’
Which worries me, because if they could go to jail over this, what does that mean for my citizenship status? I have always worried that and now I’m expecting my first child which is an added weight (I do not want to be separated or in a country I’ve never lived in alone with a newborn), but I need to know who I am.
I wonder if my adoptive parents have fed me this narrative simply because they just don’t want me looking for my biological family or because they did partake in something they know was not exactly legal and right.
My question is, do I need to find an adoptee rights lawyer? I do not have the money for a lawyer or attorney, if I’m being honest, but any recommendations or points in the right direction would greatly help me. I know I am not the only adoptee who faces this issue and I feel the need to dissect this more and find answers.
Some more information: my father admitted he lied to the US consulate about me being their child when questioned in order to gain my citizenship. I do not know if this is true or not, that is what I was told.
Top Comment:
Hey there -- I was adopted internationally and had some weird issues with paperwork that I was aware of since I was a teen. I'm 40 now, but the mental burden of that and not actually knowing for sure what was ok or not really took an enormous toll on me.
Two years ago, I finally mustered the courage to fill out a Freedom of Information Act request, to get my immigration file. I think it's called an Alien file. I just googled some steps and it was like $25. I eventually took that to an immigration lawyer, $350, told her everything in an hour-long visit and gave her the paperwork to review, and found out that everything was square legally. It was the scariest thing in the world to face that, and I didn't have anyone I knew who did it before. If it helps, try doing a FOIA request first, and then know that you can talk to a lawyer for an hour just to find out. Having peace of mind is worth the cost, even if you have to save up for it. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Child Custody Attorney
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Hi, can someone please provide me with an attorney who is experienced in child custody hearings in Williamson County?
My employee really needs help. Her current attorney is not reliable, among other things. I have referred her to file a complaint with the Texas Bar Association.
She’s a single mother of two little girls. Her ex does not have a job, but has a girlfriend who is financially independent and assisting him. He is taking her to court for full custody.
Any help would be great! I’m not from the area and I have already referred her to Texas Legal Aid and the UT Law department.
Thank you in advance!!
Top Comment:
JR Hancock is one of the few board certified family law attorneys in Williamson County.