Foster Parent Adoption
A child’s foster family often is the placement of choice when that child becomes legally free for adoption. This is especially true when the child in question has special needs and when a strong attachment has grown between foster parent and child during the course of the foster care placement. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has a foster adopt program designed to match foster parents who want to be adoptive parents with children considered likely to be adopted.
Step-Parent Adoption
A step-parent adoption is a common form of adoption is by a step-parent who assumes moral, financial, and legal responsibility for a spouse’s child. In the process, the non-custodial parent is released from all parenting responsibilities. The procedure is fairly straightforward when the adoption is not opposed by the non-custodial parent. In addition, the home study required is less extensive and, in turn, less expensive than with other types of adoption.
Relative Placement
There is a preference under state law for a dependent child to be placed with a relative when the child’s birth parents are incapable of providing proper parenting. Sometimes, the DSHS fails to fully consider relatives as placement resources for dependent children. If your niece, nephew, or grandchild is “in the system” as a foster child, we can help make sure your voice is heard and timely consideration is given to placement with you. Involvement early in the process increases your chances to continue to remain a part of your loved one’s life.
DSHS Disputes & Litigation
Our firm is experienced in resolving disputes with state agencies like the DSHS. If we cannot negotiate a satisfactory resolution, we have the experience to litigate your case in Juvenile Court. If you feel your point of view is not respected or “heard” by the social worker making critical decisions about a child you cherish, we can assist in ensuring that your voice will be heard by the judge who will ultimately decide placement.
International Adoption
Another way to build your family is through International Adoption. In some countries, such as China, the international adoption is finalized in the country of origin, so once you come home with your child, he or she is legally yours already. With adoptions from those countries, our firm’s role is to assist in the “re-adoption” process whereby the adoptive family obtains a decree of adoption under Washington law and a Washington birth certificate.
In other countries, notably South Korea, the adoption family takes custody through an arrangement with an adoption agency, such as World Association of Children and Parents (WACAP). After the child has resided with the family in Washington for several months, the adoption occurs in Washington. Our adoption attorneys’ role in such cases is to prepare the pleadings necessary to accomplish that adoption.
A number of countries work with U.S. couples hoping to adopt, so identifying which country works best for your family is usually the first step to take when moving forward.
Private, Unrelated Parties
A private adoption occurs when the adoptive parents hope to adopt a child they already know or adopt through an individual birth mother and do not need to go through an adoption agency to acquire an adoptive child. This type of adoption could exist in a variety of cases, such as the child of family friends is orphaned or when one knows of an acquaintance who can no longer take care of his or her child and is hoping to have the child adopted.
Agency Adoptions
If you are working with an agency to find the right child for your family, either domestically or internationally, we can assist in finalizing the adoption.
