Columbus Adoption Lawyer
Adoption is a life-changing experience for parents and children in Columbus, Ohio. The process can bring about a lot of joy and a sense of feeling like your family is finally complete. However, adoption is also a legal process, one that is rife with the potential for things to go wrong. You can mitigate the risks associated with adoption by working with an experienced Columbus adoption lawyer.
Atkins And Atkins, Attorneys At Law, LLC can help you every step of the way. We can walk you through every step of the process, explaining what to expect at each stage. Contact us today at (614) 485-8248 to arrange a consultation with a knowledgeable adoption lawyer in Columbus, Ohio.
How Atkins And Atkins, Attorneys At Law, LLC Can Help With Your Adoption in Columbus, OH
Families in Columbus, OH, don’t always represent the traditional form. They may be formed through artificial insemination, remarriage, LGBTQ+ relationships, or taking in loved ones who are struggling in their current situations. At Atkins And Atkins, Attorneys At Law, LLC, we help form families through the legal process of adoption.
When you hire our family law attorneys in Columbus, OH, we can help by:
- Meeting with you to discuss your objectives and concerns
- Explaining the basics of the adoption process
- Identifying the legal options available to you based on your particular situation
- Explaining state- and county-specific laws and requirements to you
- Guiding you through the background and home study process
- Connecting you with adoption education courses
- Helping you apply to work with adoption agencies
- Setting your expectations regarding the timeline, possible problems, and potential outcomes
- Filing the necessary legal paperwork
- Representing you during legal proceedings
Contact us today to schedule a case review. Our adoption lawyers in Columbus are ready to get started as soon as you are.
Common Types of Adoptions in Ohio
There are various types of adoptions, including:
- Private adoption: A private adoption occurs when the placing family and the adopting family agree to the adoption. Neither is represented by an adoption agency. In a private adoption, the birth parents’ rights are terminated in probate court.
- Stepparent adoption: Stepparent adoption is one of the most common types of private adoption. It occurs when a stepparent legally adopts their spouse’s child. The stepparent becomes an equal legal parent and is fully responsible for the child.
- Grandparent or kinship adoption: Grandparent adoption occurs when a grandparent adopts their grandchild, often because the parent is unable to act as a responsible caregiver. Kinship adoption occurs when another relative of the adopted person adopts them, such as a sibling, cousin, or aunt.
- Agency adoption: An agency adoption occurs when an adoptive family directly adopts a child from an agency that has legal custody of the child. Additional requirements may need to be met to adopt this way.
- Inter-state adoption: An inter-state adoption occurs when the child and the adoptive parent live in different states. These cases may be more complicated because a child cannot be moved from one state to another without the approval of both states.
- International adoption: International adoptions occur when you adopt a child from another country. They may be more complicated, but they might be able to give you the family you’ve always wanted.
Having a lawyer guide you through the adoption process is crucial.
What’s the Legal Effect of an Adoption in Columbus, OH?
According to Ohio law, an adoption has the following legal effects:
- Relieves the biological or other legal parents of the adopted person of all parental rights and responsibilities
- Terminates all legal relationships between the adopted person and their relatives, including with their legal parents
- Erases their right as a beneficiary to any inheritance from their biological parents unless the estate planning document expressly states otherwise
- Creates the legal relationship of parent and child between the petitioner and the adopted person, bestowing all the same rights as though the child were biologically connected to the adoptive parent, including the right to inherit
To realize these effects, it is necessary to go through the proper channels to complete a legal adoption.
What Is the Legal Process for an Adoption in Ohio?
Every adoption case is different, but many go through the following process:
- Filing a petition for adoption: Your lawyer can file a petition for adoption in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you, the biological parent, or the child lives. The petition may include extensive information about you.
- Serving the biological parent: You must ensure the biological parent is properly notified of the adoption case by having them legally served with the petition.
- Obtaining consent for adoption: Depending on the circumstances, you may or may not need to receive consent from both biological parents.
- Completing adoption training: You may be required to complete an education course about adoption.
- Completing a home study: A home study is a comprehensive interview process in which an assessor considers whether your home is a suitable place for the child to grow up. You may need to secure additional evidence to support your position, including a recent medical report and letters of recommendation.
- Hearing: The judge may interview all parties and decide whether to grant the adoption request.
- Decree: The judge signs an adoption decree.
Once the adoption is finalized, a new birth certificate is issued, listing you as the parent.
Contact Our Caring Columbus Adoption Attorneys Today
You do not have to go through the complicated process of adopting a child alone. At Atkins And Atkins, Attorneys At Law, LLC, we recognize that adopting a child is a loving choice. We want to help facilitate the adoption. Contact us today to find out more about the adoption process in Ohio and to speak with a caring Columbus adoption attorney about your unique situation.
