Fairfax Adoption Lawyer

Fairfax Adoption Attorney

Biological families are far from the only type of American family. Adoption is one route used by many Americans to expand their family or establish legal responsibility for a loved child already in their home. Adoption involves severing parental rights and establishing new parents with the same rights and obligations. If you need support through an adoption case, seeking an experienced and compassionate Fairfax adoption lawyer should be one of your first steps.

Supportive Adoption Lawyer in Fairfax, VA

Adoption is a joyous occasion, but it can also be fraught with uncertainties and complications as you work through the family law system. An experienced adoption attorney can be an invaluable resource during this potentially complex situation.

The Taylor Huguley Powers PLLC team has over 100 years of combined experience providing legal guidance for families in the Northern Virginia community. Our focus is on providing a comprehensive approach to your adoption case with zealous advocacy and effective legal advice. We have navigated hundreds of family law clients through difficult challenges and can help you protect what matters most to you.

Adoption in Fairfax, VA

In 2019, more than 2,500 children were adopted in Virginia through several different routes. Potential routes to adopt a child in Virginia include:

• Agency placement adoptions: Adoptions through agencies occur when the child has been placed in the custody of a licensed child-placing agency or local department of social services. In this situation, the agency is granted custody of the child, the parental rights are terminated, and the agency consents to the child’s adoption. Thirty percent of the 2019 domestic adoptions in Virginia were public adoptions.
• Parental placement adoptions: Parental placement adoptions typically involve the birth parents and adoptive parents entering into an Entrusted Agreement. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will review information from a home study and other submitted documents to determine if legal requirements have been met before transferring custody to the adoptive parents.
• Stepparent adoptions: Stepparent adoptions occur when the spouse of an adoptive or birth parent adopts the child. In these circumstances, consent is either not required or has already been obtained. Investigations only occur if the court deems it necessary before finalizing the adoption. In Virginia, 44% of private adoptions in 2019 were by stepparents.
•  Adult adoptions: Adult adoptions occur when the person being adopted is at least 18 years old when the adoption petition is filed.

Home Studies in Virginia

One major component of most Virginia adoptions is a home study. A home study involves the thorough review of any person wishing to adopt and can take several weeks to resolve. Information gathered during a home study will be collected by an accredited business or organization and can include:

• The current family dynamic
• Potential family dynamics following the adoption
• Reasons for the adoption
• Family history
• Educational background
• Financial well-being
• Work history
• Criminal background checks

It must be noted that a home study will not only involve the adult(s) intending to adopt, but can also include every person living in the home.

It is not uncommon for the home study requirement to be a source of concern for potential adoptive parents. Speaking with an attorney who has existing relationships with home study agencies and who can explain the process can go a long way to alleviate some stress. The adoption lawyers at Taylor Huguley Powers PLLC regularly support adoptive parents through home studies and can bolster your case with our experience in Fairfax.

Why You Should Hire Taylor Huguley Powers PLLC

Regardless of the type, adoption cases can be complex, and bumps in the road are not uncommon. Our vast experience and knowledge allow us to anticipate and potentially avoid these issues. With an understanding that all adoption cases are unique, we can help you build a strategy tailored to your needs and situation.

We focus heavily on supporting you through the process from beginning to end and favorably resolving your case. Our clients have deemed us honest, understanding, tenacious, and proactive. We can apply these skills and more to your family law case.

FAQs

Building Your Family Through Adoption

Fairfax offers families much to explore, including the historic district, the Royal Lake Park System, and the Art Deco movie theater. Adoption is one way to build your family and give a child the experiences held dear in our community.

The Taylor Huguley Powers PLLC team understands the legal and emotional impacts the adoption process can have and can support you through it. Reach out to our office for a consultation to see how we can help you during your adoption case.