ADOPTION

Adoption Lawyers

The lawyers at Blake and Associates Law Firm are experienced in the intricacies of adoption cases and represent clients in Augusta, Aiken, Evans, Thomson, Waynesboro and all across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

When cases involve adoption and termination of parental rights, they are understandably emotional and stressful for everyone involved. Your case is too important not to have a Georgia attorney experienced in adoption on your side.

Adoption is the process in which children who have been permanently and legally separated from their birth parents are placed with new adoptive parents. The adoptive parents are given the same rights and obligations as biological parents while the rights and obligations of the biological parents are terminated.

Georgia law only permits two types of adoptions:

• Agency Placement Adoptions — Agency placements occur when the child is in the custody of a local department of social services or licensed child-placing agency. In this situation, all parental rights are terminated, custody with authority to place for adoption is granted to the agency, and the agency consents to the child’s adoption.
• Non-Agency Adoptions — A non-agency placement occurs when the child is not in the custody of an agency. In a non-agency placement, the birth parents or legal guardian(s) consent to the adoption, and parental rights are terminated by entry of the final order of adoption.
  • There are three different types of non-agency adoptions:
    • Stepparent Adoptions
    • Parental Placement Adoptions
    • Adult Adoptions

Except for licensed or duly authorized child-placing agencies, only birth parents and legal guardians are allowed to place a child for adoption in Georgia.

HOME STUDIES

With limited exceptions, a home study will be required for almost any adoption in Georgia. A home study is a review of any person wanting to adopt. An accredited organization or business investigates and reviews the potential adoptive parent(s) and anyone else living in the home. The areas of review include, but are not limited to:

• the current family dynamic
• the potential family dynamic after the addition of a new family member
• the reasons behind wanting to adopt
• the educational background of the potential adoptive parent(s)
• family histories of the potential adoptive parent(s)
• work histories
• the financial well-being of the potential adoptive parent(s), and
• criminal background checks for all persons living within the home.

The home study is regulated by state requirements and generally takes several weeks. Adoptive parents who are eager to move forward should begin the home study as soon as possible.

Having an attorney who can fully explain the home study process and also has existing relationships with agencies who can complete the home study can make a stressful process much easier. The adoption lawyers at Blake and Associates, P.C. regularly meet and foster relationships with the right people and organizations so we can readily provide information and assistance to clients going through the adoption and home study processes.