New York Adoption Lawyer
Choosing to expand your family through adoption can be an incredibly rewarding yet complex and time-consuming process. Going into an adoption without critical support from knowledgeable experts can leave you open to making mistakes that could threaten the success of your adoption. Additionally, both federal and New York law impose certain requirements on adoptions, and each form of adoption has its own unique requirements, advantages, and disadvantages. Don’t take chances with your adoption. Contact a New York adoption lawyer at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLC for assistance with any of the following forms of adoption.
Private adoption
In a private adoption, the adopting individual or couple adopts a child from the biological mother directly, without the involvement of an agency. This form of adoption can be customized to the wishes of the parties, such as by keeping identifying information or addresses confidential from one another. While private adoptions allow adoptive parents to avoid the fees associated with an agency and allow greater informality to the adoption process, there can be greater risks involved for both parties without proper legal protection. It is important to have an attorney represent you, whether you’re seeking to adopt or are the birth mother.
Agency adoption
Agencies are authorized by the State of New York to work with both birth parents and adoptive parents to arrange for an adoption. These agencies can provide assurance to a birth parent that the adopting couple has been thoroughly screened, and can provide support to both sides of an adoption. At Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLC, our Hudson Valley adoption attorneys can help you select the right adoption agency for your needs and desires, help you address the legal and financial aspects of the adoption, and ensure that all paperwork is fully and accurately completed.
International adoption and re-adoption
International adoptions can be very complex. Many countries will not allow those from other countries to adopt. Some countries participate in the Hague Convention on adoption, which creates certain protections and requirements for adopting parents. Choosing an adoption agency in a foreign country can be a gamble without help from someone with experience in the process. Further, in order to ensure that your adoption is recognized across the country and that your child has legal status as a citizen, you may need to complete a re-adoption. Re-adoption is a process completed before an American court that ensures that the adoption is recognized in the US, and can also allow you an opportunity to change your child’s name. An attorney can assist you in completing and filing the necessary documents to obtain a re-adoption.
Stepparent adoption
If you’ve remarried, your new spouse may become the parent to your child that your ex never was. If your child’s other parent is no longer a part of their life, and you want to ensure that the relationship between your child and spouse enjoys legal protection, you may want to look into a stepparent adoption. These adoptions can be challenging if your child’s other parent does not consent to the adoption, or if they cannot be located. The attorneys at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP can assist you in conducting the necessary investigation, complete any legal paperwork, and represent you before a judge in a stepparent adoption, if needed.
Talk to Experienced Kingston Family Law Attorneys about Adoption
If you’re considering an adoption in New York, be sure that you have compassionate, reliable and knowledgeable legal representation throughout the process of welcoming a new child into your family or ensuring that your child is placed in a loving home. Contact a New York adoption lawyer at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP for a consultation, at 845-331-4100 (Kingston), or 845-236-4411 (Marlboro).
