Adoption Attorney

Since 1875 | Northeast Louisiana’s Oldest and Largest Law Firm

Comprehensive Guide to Adoption Legal Services at HPBLaw

The expert adoption attorneys at Hudson, Potts & Bernstein, L.L.P. in Louisiana recognize adoption as a noble process for all parties involved. Our aim is to assist you in adopting a child by creating a personalized adoption plan that eases some of the stress attached to the adoption process.

Depending on the circumstances, an adoption may require different processes and procedures. Our Adoption Attorneys are here to help finalize the best adoption path for you, the child, and your family as a whole.

Your Adoption Plan:

Upon inquiry, we will set up an initial consultation to learn about you and your adoption wishes. During this meeting, we will thoroughly explain each type of adoption and determine which one is best for your needs.

A brief overview of the types of adoption attorney in Louisiana is as follows:

Agency Adoption: Fostering a child already placed in an adoption agency in hopes of later adopting that child.
Private Adoption: Working with birth parents to finalize an adoption before the child enters foster care.
Intrafamily Adoption: Adopting a family member.
International Adoption: Adopting a child from another country.

Once we establish the appropriate type of adoption attorney for your family, we will create a timeline and begin gathering information specific to your longed-for adoption.

Adoption plan with Attorneys in Louisiana

The Legal Process in Louisiana:

Once your adoption plan is finalized, our attorneys will assist you in completing the necessary steps of the legal process. Most often, the adoption process will start with a home study to ensure that the adoptive family has a suitable home for the child. Next, the Petition for Adoption will be filed. Once the child has lived with the adoptive parents for the requisite period of time, a hearing can be held, and the court can review the matter. Thereafter, the court will set a date to finalize the adoption and change the surname of the child, if the family wishes to do so.

While this is an overview of the legal process, other documents, studies, and reports may be necessary such as Acts of Surrender, Counseling, Open Adoption Agreements, and more.

The attorneys at HPB in Louisiana are committed to your adoption plans. We will be there every step of the way and will keep you informed throughout the process. Whether you hope to accomplish an agency, private, intrafamily, or international adoption, we are available and happy to help you begin the adoption process today.

For more information on adoptions, please visit the “Blog” tab. If you have any questions regarding the legal process of adoption, please call Hudson, Potts & Bernstein, L.L.P.

Legal Process using a Adoption Attorney in Louisiana

Adoption: Frequently Asked Questions

Adoption itself is rewarding, but the process can be complex. We are here to provide insight so that you can feel confident in your decision to pursue adoption.

There are 5 frequently asked questions in the niche area of adoption law:

Who can adopt?

In general, only married couples or a single person who is at least 18 years old may adopt. For intrafamily adoptions, a stepparent, step-grandparent, great-grandparent, grandparent, or other relative may adopt after having legal or physical custody of the child for at least 6 months.

Who pays for the adoption?

The adoptive parent(s) pays for all costs associated with adoption, including legal fees, agency fees (if pursuing an agency adoption), home study fees, and expenses for the birth mother such as counseling and medical expenses. Therefore, it is free for a biological parent to place their child for adoption in the state of Louisiana.

Can the biological parent change their mind to place their child for adoption?

Yes. Sometimes, after birth, biological parents who planned to place their child for adoption have a change of heart. As a result, the Louisiana Children’s Code allow biological parents a certain number of days to change their mind before surrendering their parental rights.

For agency adoptions, biological parents have until the third day following birth to consent to an adoption. For private adoptions, biological parents have until the fifth day following birth to consent to an adoption. If the biological parent(s) consents within these timeframes, their decision to place their child for adoption is final and irrevocable.

What are the rights of adoptive parents?

Once the final decree of adoption is rendered, the parental rights of the biological parent(s) transfer to the adoptive parent(s). This includes:

The right to make decisions concerning care, custody, and control of the adoptive child;
The right to make decisions about the upbringing of the adoptive child (i.e. religious beliefs, healthcare, and education); and
The right to inherit from the adoptive child.

What are the rights of adoptive children?

Adoptive children have the right to inherit from both their biological and adoptive families.

However, once the parental rights of the biological parent(s) are either surrendered or terminated, or upon a final decree of adoption, they, as well as all other blood relatives, are deprived of their legal rights to the adopted child. This includes the right to inherit from the child or his lawful descendants (i.e. children). Put simply, while the adoptive child can inherit from his biological parents and other blood relatives, they cannot inherit from him.

If you have further questions regarding the adoption process, please contact one of our attorneys.

Attorneys focused on Adoption Law at Hudson, Potts & Bernstein, L.L.P.:

Anslee W. Berry

Schedule an Adoption Attorney Consultation

If you are someone wanting to go through the adoption process, schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys in Louisiana by calling 318-388-4400.

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