Fairfax Adoption Attorney

Adoptions are never easy.  As a Fairfax adoption attorney, I have represented adopting parents in Virginia courts. Give me a call to discuss your adoption case.

Read below for details on how to win your adoption case in court:

Adoption Laws in Fairfax

Adoption is an emotional process whereby children who have been legally and permanently separated from their birth parents are placed in the care of new parents.

The laws relating to adopting may differ from state to state and can be quite confusing.

What is necessary to adopt in one state, may be different in another state.

Therefore, if you are looking to adopt in Fairfax, you need to be up to date with the adoption laws. 

As per §63.2-1200, Chapter 12 of the Virginia Code, any natural person may petition to adopt a minor child.

If the petitioner is married, the spouse must join.

Moreover, any natural person may adopt another adult under certain conditions. In the event a child is 14 and older, their consent will be taken into account by the judge.

It is important to note that you must be at least 18 years old to adopt. You may be married, single, or divorced to pursue adoption.

Moreover, as mentioned above how each state has different laws and regulations, one major requirement in Virginia is to complete a home study to be eligible to adopt.

Who can Adopt in Fairfax?

In Fairfax, the following may adopt a child:

• A Virginia state resident
• A husband and wife jointly
• A step-parent
• Intended parents who are parties to a surrogacy contract
• Any person with custody of the child place by a child-placing agency

 Since there are no marriage requirements same sex-couples or unmarried individuals are welcome to adopt in Fairfax so long as they meet the requirements of being over 18 years old and completing the home study as per the law.

Home Study Requirement

Virginia adoption laws state that before adopting a child, you must complete a home study.

This home study is an evaluation of whether your family is ready to adopt.

It includes three phases: the in-home visit, a home inspection, and the documentation phase.

The documents necessary for you to have are:

1. Marriage licenses
2. Birth certificates
3. Driver’s licenses
4. Tax documents
5. Income statements
6. Mental health statements
7. Physical health statements

Agency Placement Adoptions

This involves the help of a public agency to help find and place children with prospective adoptive parents.

They also facilitate the requirements of home study and any other steps leading to a child being placed in their care.

These agencies provide the parents with counseling that can be extremely beneficial for first-time parents.

Non-Agency Adoptions

A direct placement adoption, also known as a private or independent adoption, usually arises in situations where the birth mother directly chooses the adoptive parents.

Once the child is born, the adoptive parents receive immediate rights and placement of the child. 

A benefit to direct placement adoption is the reduced wait time that adoptive parents often endure while waiting with agencies. It may be costly depending on each situation.

The arrangements and processes in a non-Agency Adoption are less expensive than that a parent must go through with an adoption agency.

How Long Does the Adoption Process take In Virginia?

The time to wait during the process of adoption depends on a case-by-case basis.

In many cases, it depends on how long it takes for a family to fill out all applications and complete the home study requirement. 

In International adoption cases, the wait times vary greatly depending on the country the child resides in, their age, and if the child has any special needs.

It is hard to give an exact estimate since it all varies on the circumstances of a case.

Therefore, it is encouraged to speak with a Fairfax adoption attorney to get a better idea of the process.

Why Should you Hire an Experienced Fairfax Adoption Attorney?

The process of adoption is complicated and involves critical legal matters that you may not understand.

It is encouraged to consult with an experienced Fairfax Adoption Attorney who can help you navigate the process and establish the best plan for you. 

The attorneys here at the American Lawyers group have years of experience handling thousands of cases by providing strong and effective legal representation.

Our Fairfax adoption attorney can not only help to simplify the legal process for you but also relieve your stress about the legal side of adoption in court.