The International Adoption Process
Adoption process is where the parent-child relationship is established between people who are not biologically related. International adoption process is considered to be a good opportunity for a person to expand his family. But, the person has to be knowledgeable about the laws governing the international adoption process as the international adoption can be a complex, bureaucratic process, involving not only one -- but two -- countries. So you have to know the complete requirements for not only the country you have chosen, but for the United States government, your state, and the adoption attorney. The adoption attorney acts as a guide in providing the unbiased views about the adoption process and he also explains the rights governing adoption in his state.
Overview of Adoption Lawyers / Adoption Attorneys
The law governing the process of adoption is a complex one. The adoption attorney assist you with your paperwork; offer up-to-date information about changes in either country's adoption policies, procedures, or laws; and maintain contact with adoption officials and facilitators in the host country. They so, the clients have to clarify their various doubts from the adoption lawyers before embarking on the process of adoption.
Reasons for Hiring A Reputable Adoption Attorney:
- The adoption lawyer provides an unbiased opinion and he also explains the adoption procedures to his clients.
- The adoption attorney is capable of giving an accurate assessment of the costs involved.
- The adoption attorneys are prepared to clarify all the doubts of their clients in the adoption process.
The attorneys encourage the people who have decided to adopt to contact as many adoption groups as possible and read many articles on adoption, so that they understand the basic nature of the adoption process.
The following matters have to be cleared before dealing with an Adoption Lawyer:
- The clients have to be clear on the manner in which the bills are charged.
- The clients have to be clear about the experience and the competence of the adoption lawyers.
- The clients have to be sure about the services provided by the adoption attorneys.
- The clients have to clarify with their lawyers on whether the lawyers would keep them updated on the adoption matters.
- The clients have to ascertain if the lawyer is sensitive to his feelings.
- The lawyer should be open in his discussions about the risks involved in the process of adoption.
- The lawyer should be sensitive to the feelings of the client.
- The client should ensure that his attorneys are pleasant people to work with as he has to work with the attorneys for a long period of time.
The client should also learn his attorney’s general views of the adoption process and if the attorneys are capable of changing their views to match the client’s desire. Majority of the work is done by the attorneys through telephones and writing so the client should not expect the attorney to meet him every time.
- The adoption lawyer should prepare the necessary documents when the biological mother or the social worker calls him to inform him of the delivery and the intention to give the infant for adoption.
- The adoption attorney should obtain the signature of the mother willing to give the infant for adoption. The signature should be signed in the presence of a notary public.
- The adopting couple should take charge of the hospital charges of the biological mother and the infant. They should sign a statement accepting financial responsibility for the hospital charges.
- The infant is discharged to the attorney by the hospital staff.
- The social worker would provide the medical data of the child to the attorney and the adoption lawyer should put his queries to the social worker.
- The adoption lawyers say that the parents have the right to explore several resources before entering the final decision.
- They have the right to be treated with complete dignity and they also have the right to ask for confidentiality.
- The adoption attorneys say that the biological parents have the right to choose the adoptive parents as well as change the adoptive attorneys and agencies if they so desire.
- The biological parents have the right to sign the final surrender document. They may sign the final surrenders only if they are satisfied with all the conditions.
- The right to verify all the information including the references.
