Tri-Cities Adoption

Many families in the Tri-Cities community become involved in the adoption process at some point in their lives. Some families may want to welcome a new child into their home whereas others get involved when they need to place a child up for adoption. Either way, these families are often surprised by the complex nature of the adoption process.

If you are interested in adopting a child—or considering putting a child up for adoption—you need an attorney who will aggressively advocate for you. For this reason, it’s best to seek legal representation from the dedicated family attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law. Schedule a consultation by calling 360-926-9112 today.

There are several ways that a family can adopt a child in the state of Washington. The attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law handle various types of adoption cases, including:

• Stepparent adoptions
• Foster parent adoptions
• Grandparent adoptions
• Prospective parents adopting through a local agency
• Birth parents selecting the adoptive parents for their child

Each type of adoption case has its own complexities, which is why it’s so important to turn to the trusted attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law for guidance in your case.

The process will vary depending on the type of adoption case. But in every case, prospective parents must take a number of steps in order to finalize the adoption of a child. One of the steps that must be completed before the adoption can be finalized is the home study.

During the home study, a social worker will investigate the prospective parents’ home environment, family life, financial resources, and lifestyle to determine if they are capable of caring for an adopted child. At the end of the study, the social worker will prepare a report that includes their opinion on whether or not the adoption should be approved. Completing this home study is one of the biggest hurdles that prospective parents must overcome to finalize their adoption.

Parental consent is required in most adoption cases. This means that prospective parents cannot move forward with the adoption unless the following parties give their consent:

• Birth parents
• Legal guardians
• State departments or agencies that are responsible for the child’s care
• The child (only if he or she is over the age of 14)

Adoption cases are far more complicated if the child’s biological parents refuse to give consent. But, it’s important for prospective parents to know that parental consent is not always required. If the court believes terminating the biological parents’ rights is in the child’s best interests, the prospective parents will not need to obtain the biological parents’ consent. The court can also terminate the biological parents’ rights if they have failed to fulfill their parental duties.

Prospective parents and parents that are considering placing a child for adoption should seek legal representation from the experienced attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law. Our attorneys have helped countless clients overcome the obstacles that arise in the complex adoption process. Let us lead the fight to reach your family’s goals in your adoption case. To schedule a consultation with our adoption attorneys in Tri-Cities, call 360-926-9112 or book your appointment online today.