Becoming a parent is an exciting decision that will yield many rewards. Adopting a child is a life-changing experience that will undoubtedly bring many joyous moments to your life and lead to a lifetime of wonderful memories. While exciting, adopting a child can also be stressful because of the law and procedural formalities. Further, adoption can be costly. Making mistakes in the process can increase the financial cost and may also add unneeded emotional distress. An adoption attorney in Raleigh from Marshall & Taylor PLLC can help make the process easier.
An adoption agency can facilitate the adoption process by maintaining organized records and providing necessary information. At Marshall & Taylor PLLC, we have assisted families with the adoption process over the years. We understand that while adopting can reap many great rewards, it can also be a challenge to go through the overwhelming and tedious legal process alone. Let us help you bring the joy of life and another family member into your home.
Why Should You Hire Us?
The team at Marshall & Taylor PLLC has extensive experience in North Carolina family law. We are highly awarded and are held in great esteem by our peers and clients. Founding partner Jefferey E. Marshall is a Board board-certified family law specialist. This means he has met rigorous standards set by the North Carolina Bar, including outstanding service to the public, passing a specialized written examination, receiving high praise from his peers, and showing that he has extensive knowledge and skill in family law. Having been tested in and out of court, we are dedicated to the people we serve, always working to get you the results you want.
Adoption, while joyous, can also be stressful. Focus on the joy and allow the proven team of Raleigh adoption attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC to deal with the stresses. We are compassionate and understanding. At Marshall & Taylor PLLC, we want to help you welcome your family’s addition home. Call us today at (919) 833-1040 for a consultation.
Types of Adoption
There are many things to consider when adopting. For example, what type of adoption are you seeking? What a family is looking for in an adoption can vary, and each family’s needs will be different based on their particular set of circumstances.
For each of these types of adoption, the legal process can be different and present unique legal and procedural challenges. Knowing how to navigate the legal process can be difficult. During a time when you are preparing to bring a new family member into your home, you should not have to worry about the legal process of adoption, you should be celebrating the new shape your family is taking.
At Marshall & Taylor PLLC we can help with a variety of adoption processes including independent adoptions, open and closed adoptions, ensuring that both expectant mothers and adoptive parents have plans tailored to their unique interests and circumstances. We also provide experienced legal representation to handle the complexities of both agency and independent adoptions. That is why we, at Marshall & Taylor PLLC, are here to help with the technicalities.
Read more: Preparing for a Pre-Adoption Home Study
Adoption Facts and Statistics
People adopt for a variety of reasons, as each individual family’s needs vary. Adoption touches the lives of many Americans in a very significant fashion. A survey found that 57% of Americans were adopted by their foster parents. Data also shows that in the United Sates, 33% of children were adopted by a relative or family member.
Families may adopt children, from infants to teens, and may even adopt adults. In 2022, roughly 53,665 children were adopted by American families. The majority of children adopted come from the United States foster care system. Biological parents play a important role in the adoption process, often being involved in legal proceedings and decisions regarding contact with the child. In the United States, there are over 368,000 children in the foster home care system waiting to be adopted, with over half of these kids being six years old or older.
In North Carolina, the number of children adopted with some public welfare agency involved varies from year to year. However, it has consistently been over 1,100 adoptions per year since 2005, with there being 1,303 children adopted in 2022. The number of child adoptions without involvement from public welfare agency in North Carolina in 2021 was 959. Of those adopted 56.6% were male and 43.4% were female.
Requirements and Adoption Laws in North Carolina
There are some requirements to being able to adopt a child in North Carolina. Adoption laws are integral as they govern the transfer of parental rights and ensure the protection of all parties involved. For example, you must be 18 years or older to adopt a child. However, you may adopt a child whether you are married, divorced, widowed, or single. Whether you rent or own your home is inconsequential, as long as you have a stable living environment. When adopting a child, having parenting experience is not a requirement, but it is okay if you already have children in your home.
While there are no recorded statistics on the number of couples wanting to adopt, experts estimate that around two million couples are waiting to adopt. This means that for each child placed, there are 36 couples waiting to adopt. Birth parents have specific rights and concerns regarding the contact their child may have with them post-adoption, which adds complexity to the process. The length of time it will take for an adoption will vary depending on what type of adoption families are seeking. For those looking to adopt a healthy infant, the wait can be anywhere from two to seven years. This may be, in part, because only 4% of women with unwanted pregnancies place their babies for adoption. If you are looking to adopt, get the help of the experienced attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC to help move you through the process.
North Carolina Adoption – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
At Marshall & Taylor PLLC, our Raleigh adoption lawyers get many questions from clients regarding the adoption process in North Carolina. Below are several of the most commonly asked questions. We hope you find our answers useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (919) 833-1040 if you have further questions regarding adoption in North Carolina.
A adoption lawyer in Raleigh can explain your legal rights and the adoption process in a manner that is easy to understand. The legal status established through adoption is crucial as it legally defines the parental rights and responsibilities between the adoptive parent and the child. This can impact other areas such as medical decisions and inheritance rights.
Should I hire an adoption attorney in Raleigh?
Adoption is governed by statute. The statutory procedures outlined in Chapter 48 of the North Carolina General Statutes must be adhered to in order to complete an adoption. These laws are complicated. Working with a skilled and experienced law office can help ensure that your adoption goes as smoothly as possible.
A Raleigh adoption attorney can explain your legal rights and the adoption process in a manner that is easy to understand. It’s important that you hire a lawyer as soon as possible in the adoption process.
Who can adopt in North Carolina?
While the North Carolina adoption process is complicated, the basic eligibility requirements are straightforward. Any adult 18 or older may be eligible to adopt a child in North Carolina. Adoption laws govern the eligibility criteria, ensuring that the interests of children, expectant parents, and adoptive families are protected. You do not have to be married to adopt. You also do not need to meet a minimum income threshold. That gain, not every applicant gets approved for adoption. Gaining approval can be challenging, depending on the circumstances. For example, all prospective adoptive parents have to submit to a background check and complete a home study.
What is a home study?
In most North Carolina adoption cases, a home study is required to provide the court with the information they need to approve the adoption. The home study also proves your ability to parent an adopted child. The home study addresses your medical history, employment history, your friends and family, the safety of your home, and your criminal background, if applicable.
Before parents can be approved for adoption, they must show that they can provide a safe and healthy environment for the child. Typically, a social worker will be assigned to your case and conduct an in-depth assessment of you and your home. An adoption agency can assist in this process by maintaining organized records and providing necessary information.
Adoption home studies can be stressful. However, a lawyer can help make the process go smoother. If you have any questions or concerns about your home study, the experienced Raleigh adoption attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC can help you to prepare and understand what to expect.
What are the legal requirements to finalize the adoption?
After an adoption petition is filed, the court will order a post-placement study to determine whether the placement is in the child’s best interests. The post-placement study, which is a follow-up to the home study, involves interviews with the adoptive parents. It also has an interview that includes the adopted child in order to observe their relationship with the adopted parents. The post-placement report consists of a recommendation concerning the granting of the adoption petition. The involvement of biological parents in the post-placement study is also considered, especially in legal proceedings. If the post-placement study is favorable, the adoption may be finalized in a North Carolina court.
Talk to an Adoption Attorney in Raleigh
The decision to adopt a child or adult can be one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Unfortunately, the legal processes that adopting parents need to work through can be exceedingly complex. They may even cause significant delays in the adoption process for some families. It may be in your best interests to partner with an adoption lawyer in Raleigh who can help you ensure that your adoption runs as smoothly as possible.
If you are considering adoption in any form, the assistance of one of our understanding and skilled lawyers from Marshall & Taylor PLLC, can make the process significantly less complicated. Find out how our team can help you add to your family by calling (919) 833-1040 or contacting us online today. Understanding adoption laws is important as they govern the transfer of parental rights and protect the interests of all parties involved.