What You Need to Know About Adopting a Baby in Wilmington, NC

Adopting a baby is a unique and special time in your life.  You are likely experiencing a variety of different emotions – scared, nervous, happy, relieved – and that’s just to name a few. Here in Wilmington, North Carolina, we understand exactly how you feel because adopting a baby isn’t an easy process.

No doubt about it, your story prior to adopting a baby is a moving one and is unique to you. As your dreams of becoming a parent (either again or for the first time) are fulfilled, there will be countless moments of joy that too, will mark milestones in your life.  In the midst of it all – you’ll need to focus not just on preparing for this new journey but also making sure you handle all the legalities properly. Even a simple mistake in paperwork can create long delays in your adoption process and in some cases, prevent it from happening altogether.  It is our job to work for you and make sure this doesn’t happen.

Why Do I Need A Lawyer When Adopting a Baby?

Adopting a newborn or older baby is in the US not an easy process, and it is no different here in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Regardless of the emotions and excitement, you are experiencing, it is important that – while you prioritize adopting a baby – you also prioritize adopting

your baby the right way, going through the proper legal steps from the beginning to the end.

There are many documents that need to be complete with 100% accuracy.  Your experienced adoption lawyer will walk you through each one of those documents, step by step, to ensure that each form is filled out correctly well within the required time frame set forth by the courts and the adoption agency.

It doesn't have to be difficult, and here at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division, we'll make adopting a baby a smooth, seamless process.  Our job is to educate you on all the aspects of adopting a newborn, and we’ll make sure you will be fully informed at every level.

Open vs. Closed Adoptions

When you began thinking about adopting a baby, you likely consider how you should explain adoption to your child – and who their birth parents are.

For a variety of reasons, many birth parents will allow their identity to be included in birth records, thus, creating the opportunity for the child to contact them later. These reasons may include:

• Organ compatibilty
• Genetic disorders
• Medical history
• Social development reasons

This is commonly referred to as an “open” or “cooperative” adoption.  Open adoptions also allow the birth parents and prospective parents to communicate and/or contact one another during the adoption process and after the adoption process has been finalized.

On the opposite end, some birth parents opt out to of the possibility of being contacted later and choose not to have their name included on birth records.  They typically do not meet the prospective parents and do not exchange names or any other identifying information.  This is called “confidential” or “closed” adoption.

What Should I Expect When Adopting a Baby?

You should be prepared to be fully invested in your quest to adopt a baby.  In addition to the completion of formal paperwork, you will also be asked to participate in a pre-placement assessment also known as a home study, which reviews the home environment where the child would live.

There will also be a criminal background check.  If you have any other issues that could come up during this process, it is extremely important that you share this information with your lawyer.

Additionally, you should be financially prepared to adopt a baby, as the process can be very costly.

How an Attorney in Wilmington, North Carolina Can Help

Whether you are adopting a newborn or adopting a baby who is a bit older, the process creates a whirlwind of emotions on many levels.  It can be daunting, but with the right lawyer by your side, your new addition can be in your arms with as little stress as possible.

An experienced adoption lawyer in Wilmington, North Carolina can guide you through the process step by step.  You’ll need to look great on paper, and you'll need to have a proper home environment as well as a clean background check.

Even the slightest blemish can have an impact on whether your adoption process goes through, so getting the right Wilmington family law attorney with experience in handling adoption cases is key to your successful outcome.  Call the attorneys at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division today for a free consultation.  We’ll be with you from the moment you reach out until the day you take your new baby home.  It would be an honor to represent you during this new chapter in your life.