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How an Attorney Can Help with Adoption

• May 29, 2020
• Cloud, Ryan & Rouse, LLC
• LEAVE A COMMENT

Adopting a child into your family can be one of life’s greatest experiences, but it is also a complicated legal process that necessitates professional legal guidance. While you attend to the matter of expanding your family, your experienced Huntsville adoption lawyer will work tirelessly to help ensure that your adoption process is smooth and successful. 

Adoption Requirements in Alabama

To adopt in the State of Alabama, there are certain requirements that you must meet, and these include:

• You (and/or your spouse, if you are married) must be an American citizen, and you must be at least 19 years old.
• If you are married, you must have been married for at least three years prior to adopting.
• Your health must be adequate to meet the needs of the child being adopted.
• Your home must be adequate to safely house the adoptive child.
• Every adult in your household must pass a thorough background check that includes a criminal history.

These are the basics when it comes to an Alabama adoption, and an experienced Huntsville adoption lawyer will help you determine if you qualify to move forward.

Your Adoption Process

Adopting a child is a uniquely moving experience, but the legal complications can be a lot to deal with. Working closely with a knowledgeable adoption lawyer helps to ensure that you remain timely and compliant with the administrative details and document filings, which can otherwise trip up your adoption efforts. 

Your Home Study

The home study is a critical component of most Alabama adoptions. The state uses home studies to help ensure that the adoption is a good fit and that the child will be safe, happy, and healthy with his or her new family. As such, the home study can be daunting for you as a prospective adoptive parent, but your dedicated adoption attorney will help make sure that you know what to expect from and are well prepared for your home study. The basic elements of any home study include:

• The state will assess your suitability as an adoptive parent.
• The state will investigate why the birth parents are giving up parental rights and responsibilities.
• The state will take the birth parents’ unsuitability into consideration (if they abandoned the child, for example). 
• The state will assess the child and his or her birth parents’ medical histories and will provide them to you before the adoption is finalized.
• The state will conduct a criminal background check on you.
• The state will assess your financial ability to care for the adoptive child.

It’s the state’s obligation to ensure that the adoption is a safe and healthy placement, and the home study is an important component of this process.

Don’t Delay Consulting with an Experienced Huntsville Adoption Lawyer

Adoption is both a highly emotional experience and a complicated legal matter. The compassionate adoption lawyers at Cloud Ryan & Rouse, LLC, proudly serving Huntsville, have the experience, commitment, and resources to help your adoption process proceed smoothly. We’re here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 256-801-1000 to schedule a free consultation today.