Should You Hire an Adoption Attorney?

Adopting a child can be the most wondrous, exciting event in the lives of young parents who cannot otherwise bear children. Adoption has become a favorable alternative for both women who cannot support or take care of a child, and couples who, for whatever reason, cannot naturally conceive. And although the adoption process is fairly straight forward, it is often helpful to have an experienced adoption attorney in your corner.

The U.S. laws governing adoption are more than a little complex, and layman can have difficulty deciphering them. Although an adoption agency can explain most legalities, they are not necessarily your advocate. An adoption attorney can make sure that your legal rights are protected, and can assist in several ways throughout the adoption process.

Here are a few ways in which adoption attorneys can be of assistance to couples who are considering adoption:

#1. Strategy & Planning

An experienced adoption attorney will have overseen the adoptions of several other couples, and will know the precise methods with which to proceed. He or she will be able to forsee any plausible problems and will be able to come up with a proactive solution. An adoption attorney will plan for every contingency, and will expedite the adoption process.

#2. Connections

An adoption attorney who has been representing adopting couples for many years will have connections within the industry. This does not mean, of course, that you can use your adoption attorney to circumvent due process, but he or she will know who to contact when and if a problems arises. Further, your adoption attorney will be able to best advise you on which agencies to contact concerning adoption.

#3. Specialization

Nothing compares to obtaining the counsel of someone who can provide you with your most powerful ally: information. An attorney specializing in adoption will know everything – or almost everything – there is to know on the subject. He or she can guide you to helpful resources and can make the entire process much more pleasant.

#4. Counsel

When you have questions, concerns and problems with adoption, your adoption attorney can give you the best possible advice. There is nothing worse than being lost in the middle of the adoption process with no idea as to how to move forward. An experienced adoption attorney will act as your advocate and your counselor throughout the entire process.

So how can you find an experienced adoption attorney?

First of all, you need to obtain an adoption attorney early in the game. Having counsel by your side from the very beginning will save you the ordeal of having to explain your situation later, when you find that you do need an attorney.

Secondly, talk to friends and to other people who have adopted children. Your best resource is parents who have worked through a particular agency and who have used adoption attorneys in the past.