For a family law attorney, adoptions are one of the most rewarding areas of law. It is a wonderful experience helping parents complete an adoption in Las Vegas that allows them to bring a child into their home and to become a part of their family and our community.
Types of Adoption
Most adoptions in Las Vegas involve an adoption agency. Typically, a birth mother will place the child for adoption with an adoption agency. The agency will then work with the couple hoping to adopt the child and will perform home studies and take care of the investigation required to provide the family court with information relative to the pending adoption. Our office will then assist in the court process where the adoption is finalized.
When a mother or father who has custody of a child is remarried, her/his new spouse may desire to adopt her/his child. Stepparent adoption is only possible when the noncustodial parent is no longer a part of the child’s life; either they are deceased or have basically abandoned the child. Our office can assist you, from start to finish, with this type of adoption.
Termination of Parental Rights
Before a petition for adoption can be filed, the child must live with the adoptive parents for thirty days. The adoption may be finalized after an agency investigation called a Home Study is complete, and the child lives with the adoptive parents for a period of six months.
In private adoptions involving an agency or stepparent adoptions, a termination of parental rights is necessary. In an agency adoption, the birth mother signs a consent to the adoption. There are occasions when the biological father also signs a consent to the adoption. If not, the biological father’s parental rights need to be terminated. This is also true in a stepparent adoption. The parental rights of the non-custodial parent must be terminated before the adoption proceeds.
The process of terminating parental rights is a separate court case from adoption proceedings. The parental rights case must close before a petition for adoption is filed. Once parental rights of biological parents are vanquished, the adoption may move forward.
Your adoption is an extraordinary event. We pride ourselves on delivering the most meaningful adoption experience you can ask for. Call today.
