Lancaster is one of the counties in Pennsylvania and a central residential area with lots of families. The city also welcomes everyone, doesn’t discriminate against race or tribe, and has many families of diverse origins.
It’s one of the best places to raise a family, and if you don’t have a child yet, adopting one is an alternative route to enjoying the joys of fatherhood or motherhood.
Experienced Child Adoption Lawyers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Adopting a child is one of the most important steps you can take in adulthood, and it inspires a sense of fulfillment while bringing unexplained joy. Yet, it’s more complicated than applying for custody of a child, paying the required fees, and taking the kid home. Transferring parental rights from one parent to another can be challenging.
You need a reputable child adoption attorney to help you figure out how to follow the law. Bentley, Kopecki, Smith, P.C’s., child adoption lawyers can make the process entirely seamless. Bringing home that new bundle of joy you desire doesn’t have to be stressful when you trust us with the process.
Legal Requirements to Adopt a Child in Pennsylvania
Anyone can adopt a child in Pennsylvania, whether you are a couple, a single mother or father, or an individual. However, not everyone can adopt due to background issues. A formal background check of the potential adoptive parents may find loopholes or certify a person as eligible for adoption.
So, if you can scale through the background check, which ensures you have no history of criminality, misdemeanors, or behavioral instability, among other criteria, you’ve passed the first stage. In addition, the adoption requirements or qualifications may depend on your chosen adoption route.
Below are some adoption routes you can choose from:
- Agency Adoption – You can adopt a child via a private adoption agency or public adoption agencies rather than the child’s birth parents.
- Private Adoption – A private agreement between you and the child’s birth parents to transfer custody is classified as a private adoption.
- International Adoption – Adopting a child born or who lives outside the United States is considered an “international adoption”. The child must be legally recognized as a US citizen, which the potential adoptive parent will facilitate while meeting other federal requirements.
- Interstate Adoption – Adopting a child out of Pennsylvania is an interstate adoption. However, before signing any agreement, the child’s home state and birth parents must grant permission to transfer custody of the child.
It would be best if you had a lawyer to help you through the different steps of these adoption routes, making sure you understand each one and giving you time to think about your choices. At Bentley, Kopecki, Smith, P.C., our child adoption attorneys can help you understand the adoption methods and simplify the overall process of any choice you make.
Why You Should Hire Bentley, Kopecki, Smith, P.C. for Your Child Adoption Process in Lancaster, PA?
When you trust us to simplify and speed up your child adoption process, we get the job done and make it look easy. You also stand to benefit from the following:
1. Our Experience in Family Law
We are not “greenhorns” in child adoption processes or family law on a broad scale. Our child adoption lawyers have spent more than 10,000 hours in courtrooms fighting for and representing families. You can count on their experience to help you become a parent quickly and easily.
We are also familiar with Pennsylvania family and adoption laws to ensure all our processes are legitimate. We know the ins and outs of Pennsylvania’s family law, its complex paperwork, and the many forms it may assume.
We aren’t surprised by any twists and turns because we’ve seen it all, and you can rest easy knowing that your child’s adoption process is in capable hands.
2, Sincerity and Healthy Community Rapport
No matter how much paperwork is involved, introducing a new child to your family is more emotional and sensitive. Thus, we work with sincerity and uphold our integrity when matching families with children.
We will alert you if there’s any loophole in the process and only proceed once it’s resolved. We also have a healthy relationship with most communities in Pennsylvania. They trust us and are willing to help us in any way due to our reputation for honesty and integrity.
Our law firm can even help clients locate reputable families willing to give up their birth parents’ rights.
3. We’re Up-to-Date With Pennsylvania’s Legal Trends
Family laws are sometimes subject to modifications after undergoing several reviews. Family lawyers need to be aware of these changes to avoid working in ignorance, which is risky. Our child adoption lawyers pay close attention to how the law is changing and make sure they have the most up-to-date information that could help any case.
That’s how we keep up with our excellence in the legal field—by paying more attention to knowledge.
Don’t know Where to Start with Your Child’s Adoption Process? Contact Us Today!
We know how complex the adoption process is for prospective parents. One wrong move or choice can put you on the wrong side of the law or at war with the child’s parents. Bentley, Kopecki, Smith, P.C., experienced lawyers, will help you stay on track and simplify the intricate legal process for all adopting parents.
Our job is to ensure each step of the way is seamless and the final process gives you the joy you desire and deserve. But more importantly, we make the process faster by eliminating legal roadblocks and hurdles because we have the experience and legal expertise.
Give us a call today or fill out our contact form for a free 30-minute consultation.
