Adoption Attorneys in Maryland
Adoption is the formal process for an adult to assume the role of a parent to a child. There are many types of adoptions, including the adoption of an adult.
Adoption is a meaningful and rewarding area of practice for family lawyers in Maryland. It involves helping individuals and families navigate the legal process to create permanent, legal parent-child relationships. Whether working with birth parents, adoptive parents, or agencies, family lawyers play a critical role in ensuring that adoptions are completed lawfully, ethically, and with the child's best interests in mind.
Adoption Law in Maryland
In Maryland, adoptions are governed by Title 5 of the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code. The law outlines the procedures for different types of adoptions, consent requirements, home studies, and court processes. Our family lawyers help clients understand their rights and obligations, comply with legal requirements, and resolve any disputes or complications that may arise.
Services Provided by JW Family Lawyers
A Maryland family lawyer practicing in adoption law may offer services such as:
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Advising on eligibility to adopt (age, marital status, background checks)
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Filing petitions for adoption with the appropriate court
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Obtaining consent from biological parents or petitioning to terminate parental rights
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Coordinating home studies and background checks
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Representing clients in adoption hearings
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Ensuring compliance with state and federal laws (e.g., ICPC)
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Finalizing adoptions and securing new birth certificates
Types of Adoption Cases Handled
Our lawyers handle a range of adoption matters, including:
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Step-parent adoptions – when a spouse seeks to adopt their partner's child
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Private/independent adoptions – arranged directly between birth parents and adoptive families
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Relative or kinship adoptions – when a family member adopts a child due to parental absence or incapacity
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Adult adoptions – legally adopting an adult for inheritance or familial purposes
In pursuing any kind of adoption in Maryland, an individual must prepare an adoption petition to be filed in the Circuit Court. Petitions for adoption may include consent of the natural parents. Any adult who is not the child's natural parent may petition for adoption.
Our Lawyer's Role
Adoption can be emotionally complex and legally detailed. We guide clients through the process with clarity, ensuring all legal steps are followed, and advocating for the child's best interests. We also help protect clients from potential legal risks, such as improper consent, failed placements, or contested adoptions.
In essence, adoption law in Maryland offers family lawyers the opportunity to help our clients build families and provide children with stable, loving homes through a process that is both legally sound and personally meaningful.
Preparing and filing a pleading for Adoption can be a complex process, which usually includes multiple sections and attachments of specific data pertinent to the pleading, acceptance of the documents by the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and preparation for an adoption hearing. Speak to one of our experienced attorneys to explore your options for adoption in Maryland.