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Adoption

Alabama Adoption Attorneys

The process of adoption is a legal process through which a child that was born from a certain individual becomes the child of another individual. Making the decision to adopt a child is not one that should be taken lightly, and it’s not an easy process to undertake. There are a variety of legal processes in place to help ensure that children are placed with the right families – with families that can care for them and meet their needs. With this in mind, you might be wondering what you can expect when you make the decision to adopt in Alabama.

Before we take a look at the adoption process itself, it should be noted that hiring an attorney is highly recommended. An experienced adoption lawyer in Alabama can help ensure that all of your paperwork is completed properly and on time, and that any and all legal requirements with which you must comply are fully explained to you. The adoption process is a complex one, but an attorney can help you navigate it as quickly as possible.

Adoption Requirements

The state of Alabama has certain adoption requirements that you must meet. Note that there might also be additional requirements depending upon the specific adoption in question, but the following are some requirements that every potential adoptive parent has to meet in order to be considered:

  • The adoptive parent(s) must be over 19 years old
  • If the adoptive parent(s) is married, that marriage must be at least three years’ duration
  • If the adoptive parents are married, at least one of them must be a citizen of the United States
  • The adoptive parent(s) must be able to provide their potential child adequate personal space and housing
  • The adoptive parent(s) must be healthy enough to care for the child
  • The adoptive parent(s) must undergo a background check including a criminal history check

Application Process

If you meet all of the above requirements, then you can move forward and submit your application. You must carefully complete this document using the most accurate and updated information possible. The application can then be returned to the Department of Human Resources in your county for review. Once your application has been reviewed, you will move forward to the next stage of the process.

Group Selection and Preparation

The next step of the adoption process is the group selection and preparation meeting. This is a program that is designed to help educative potential foster parent and adoptive parents, and their families, about a wide array of pertinent subjects regarding their adoption experience. Note that there are 10 meetings lasting a total of 30 hours in this program, and potential adoptive parents are required to complete all of them. During this point in time, family members as well as yourself will be interviewed in your home.

Making it to the group selection and preparation process does not mean that you are approved to adopt, or that you will be approved to adopt. Instead, it is designed to help ensure that you and your family understand everything involved with adoption and are ready to continue the process.

Adoptive Resource Approval

Once you have completed all of the above steps, your application will either be approved or declined as an adoptive resource. If it is approved, then the placement of the adoptive child can proceed. The amount of time between the approval and the placement can vary greatly, and you might not immediately be able to proceed.

Pre-Placement Visits and Background Information

Once your application has been approved and you have been named a resource for a child, you will have the opportunity to look at the information you have been provided regarding the background information of the child you are hoping to adopt. You will have the chance to ask questions and express any concerns you might have about the information you read.

If you decide to move forward with the adoption, the next step is pre-placement visits. These visits will ultimately determine whether or not you move forward with the adoption process or whether you stop the process here. Once the child in question has been placed with you for, at minimum, three months, you can proceed with the legal adoption process.

As you can see, the road to adoption is not a quick or easy one. It is, however, an incredibly rewarding one that can be navigated successfully. An experienced adoption attorney in Alabama can help.

Contact An Adoption Lawyer For Help

If you are contemplating adoption, you should reach out to attorneys who can help ensure that your rights are upheld. Lloyd & Hogan, Attorneys at Law, can help. We offer free consultations and are ready and willing to hear about your case. Contact us today for more information.