subject: First Steps of the Adoption Process [print this page] First Steps of the Adoption Process First Steps of the Adoption Process
Bringing a child into your family is a momentous and life changing decision. When parents in Nashville opt for child adoption, they experience all the joys and anxieties that come with parenthood. However, it can sometimes feel like you are being asked to jump through hoops in order to fulfill all the legal requirements for an adoption in Nashville. It helps to have a competent adoption attorney who can steer you through the procedure as quickly as possible.
Types of adoption
In the United States, adoption has become an increasingly common option for those who are unable to have children. Many stepparents want to create a legal bond with the children of their partners. A relative may want to take responsibility if a parent of a child is unable to provide adequate care. Other people choose adoption as a way of opening their homes to children in need of care.
There are many kinds of adoptions:
Domestic
International
Private
Newborn
Older
Stepchild
Relative
Child with disabilities
Foster care
A Nashville adoption lawyer who has successfully negotiated all these types of adoptions should be able to offer reliable advice about the different adoption procedures.
Choosing an adoption agency
The first decision adoptive parents need to make involves the age of the child. Do you want an infant or are you interested in parenting an older child? The next question you should ask is, do you want to adopt domestically, within the United States, or do you prefer to adopt a child from a different country through an international agency? Baby adoption in Nashville can also happen through private adoption, with a contract drawn up between the birth parent and adoptive parents.
Another avenue to adoption is through the foster care system.
Filing an adoption petition
The adoption process begins with the filing of an adoption petition. See Tennessee's general provisions regarding the adoption petition. All adoptions must adhere to federal and state laws. In addition, every domestic and international adoption agency has its own set of requirements and procedures, depending on the legal statutes in the country of origin. Most agencies require the following:
Initial interview
Home visit
Background check
Contested adoption
Agency adoptions are generally uncontestedthe legally recognized parent voluntarily relinquishes all claims to the child and the adoptive parents agree to be responsible for the well-being and care of the child. Contested adoptions involve situations where a petition is filed asking the court to terminate parental rights to clear the way for an adoption. Reasons for filing such a petition include the inability of a parent to provide adequate care (due to incarceration, for instance), failure to visit, or abuse and neglect.
