How to Select an Adoption Lawyer
Posted by guestcontributor on May 25, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Whether you’re looking to give up a child that you simply can’t keep or you want to find a way to bring a baby home (but you’re having trouble on the fertility front), you’re going to need to go through legal channels to make sure that the adoption process is on the up and up. Although many couples (or singles) opt to engage the services of an adoption agency or browse through a lawyers directory, and this is generally perfectly acceptable, you never really know what kind of service you’re getting this way. If you choose an attorney instead, you’ll be sure that all the legalities are seen to so that you don’t have any problems down the road (like a wayward child returning to ask why you didn’t want him, or parents that gave up a child coming back to claim him). In short, it pays to be diligent and do everything you can to go through the proper legal channels for adoption. Here are just a few things to look for when selecting a lawyer to help you navigate the process.
The most important thing to ascertain is the experience level of the attorney you’re considering hiring. Many lawyers (or law firms) field a variety of cases rather than specializing in one area. Since family law, and adoption law in particular, is a very specific type, it requires a practiced hand to ensure that the process goes smoothly. So before you pay the retainer, you’ll definitely want to secure a lawyer that has a proven track record of successful adoption proceedings (with no trouble down the road). You can not only ask for the number of adoptions they’ve brokered, but also for referrals to previous clients that can relate their own experience. In fact, you may be able to find an attorney simply by asking around. You likely know people who have adopted, or you can find friends of friends to talk to about hiring someone experienced.
In addition, you’ll need to hire someone who is available. Since there aren’t a lot of lawyers specializing in this field, finding someone good that comes with stellar recommendations could mean putting your name on a waiting list. This is never a good sign. If you have issues you need to know that you can reach your attorney at any time: day, night, or weekend. If they’re not willing to be on-call, you should think about looking elsewhere. And don’t forget about the cost. Although no prospective parent wants to put a price on their dream of having a child, you definitely want to make sure you have something left for the college fund. As for those parents looking to give a child up for adoption, you should make sure that the new parents will be billed for your portion of the legal expenses (generally, they will cover everything).
Adoption can be a sticky legal process, and no matter which end of it you’re on, you don’t want to pile on any additional complications. So exercise care and do your research when hiring an adoption lawyer. Finding the right person to walk you through the process can help to make an otherwise overwhelming experience easy and stress-free.