PRACTICE AREAS

Practice Areas

In an independent adoption, the birth mother (and birth father if he is involved in the adoption plan) surrenders her child directly to the prospective adoptive parents. An agency is involved only to conduct the adoption home study (an evaluation of the adoptive parents’ fitness to parent), to counsel the birth mother if she desire [..]

In a private agency adoption, the birth mother relinquishes, or transfers, her parental rights to the licensed child-placing agency following the birth of her child. Thereafter, the adoption agency places the child with a prospective adoptive family approved through a comprehensive home study process. The private agency is responsible for screening the adoptive family, counseling [..]

In a private agency adoption, the birth mother relinquishes, or transfers, her parental rights to the licensed child-placing agency following the birth of her child. Thereafter, the adoption agency places the child with a prospective adoptive family approved through a comprehensive home study process. The private agency is responsible for screening the adoptive family, counseling [..]

New Jersey was a forerunner of same sex adoption in the United States. It was one of the first states to declare that sexual orientation could not be used to discriminate against adopting couples. For you and your partner, this means that the adoption process will be straightforward and much the same as any other adoption. [..]

Many adoptions are more complicated because the party making the adoptive placement (the birth mother or licensed agency with legal custody of the child) may reside in one state (called the “sending state”) and the prospective adoptive family may reside in another state (called the “receiving state”). In such cases, with limited exceptions, the adoption [..]

When facing an unplanned pregnancy, it can be difficult to decide where to turn for help. Consulting with an experienced adoption attorney can benefit you in many ways. Unlike an adoption agency that has professional obligations to both you and the adopting parents, your attorney’s professional obligation and loyalty are to you alone. Your attorney [..]

If you are interested in adopting a child from outside of the United States, you will need to meet both the legal requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as well as those of the child’s country of origin. The majority of international adoptions are facilitated by adoption agencies. Countries vary with regard to [..]

Public agencies place children who are in the custody of the state. These children generally are in state custody due to neglect, abandonment or misconduct of a parent, although in some cases there may be a voluntary transfer of parental rights to the agency. Most of the children are in foster care for a significant [..]

There are many children who are raised by a stepparent with whom they share a parent-child relationship. The stepparent may wish to become the child’s legal parent. Before a stepparent adoption can be granted, the parental rights of the child’s birth parent who is not the stepparent’s spouse must be terminated. Some parents will consent to [..]

Adult Adoption

Adoption of an adult is permissible in New Jersey as long as the adoptive parent or parents are of good moral character and of reputable standing in the community, and the adoption will be to the advantage and benefit of the person to be adopted. The New Jersey statute requires that the adopting parent or parents must be at least 10 years older than [..]

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