Helping Build Loving Families Through Adoption
Adoption Attorneys Serving Families and Mothers in Florida
Some law firms that assist with adoptions concern themselves primarily with the paperwork, which can be extensive. The involvement of Brandon Family Law, goes beyond paperwork. We take on prospective adoptions as projects, and we get involved in just about every part of the adoption process
The most enjoyable part of our practice is facilitating adoptions of children into loving family environments. Our office has aided hundreds of parents in Florida and nationwide in clearing the way to adopt a child.
Based in the Tampa Bay area, Brandon Family Law, helps birth mothers find loving, caring families for their children. We perform extensive background checks and careful screening of all adoptive parents, taking steps to ensure a birth mother is comfortable with a family.
Mary Greenwood McDermott offers over 35 years of experience in family law and adoption practice. We handle all types of adoption, attending to the needs and rights of birth mothers as well as the adopting couple or single parent.
Adopting Parents and Mothers Need Skilled Representation
Types of Adoption in Florida
In Florida, there are several types of adoption methods available. Here are the main ones:- Domestic Infant Adoption: This involves adopting a newborn or an infant placed for adoption by the birth parents. It often includes working with an adoption agency to match with a birth mother.
- Foster Care Adoption: This type of adoption involves adopting children who are in the foster care system. These children may have experienced trauma or instability, and foster care adoption provides them with a permanent home..
- Out-of-State Adoption: This involve adopting a child who resides in another state. Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) must approve the child’s transfer before the adoption can proceed.
- Stepparent Adoption: This occurs when a stepparent adopts their spouse’s child, creating a legal bond between the stepparent and the stepchild.
- Relative (or Kinship) Adoption: This type of adoption happens when a child is adopted by a relative, such as a grandparent, aunt, or uncle. It can provide the child with a sense of stability and continuity.
- Adult Adoption: This involves adopting an adult, usually for legal reasons such as inheritance or to formalize an existing parent-child relationship.
- Special Needs Adoption: This includes adopting children with physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities. These children often require additional support and resources.
- Open vs. Closed Adoptions: Open adoptions allow for ongoing communication or visits between the birth family and the adoptive family, while closed adoptions do not involve any contact after the adoption is finalized.
Each type of adoption has its own unique process and requirements. If you’re considering adoption, it might be helpful to consult with an adoption attorney or agency to understand the best option for your situation.
Contact our adoption lawyer today for more information or to arrange a consultation: 813-653-1744 .
FLORIDA PRIVATE AND INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION − GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Brandon Family Law, not only lays the legal groundwork, but takes a comprehensive, “social worker” approach to adoption. Most of our domestic private adoptions are open or semi-open. We introduce the birth mother to the adopting family and provide all parties with access to a network of counselors for help with the unique relationships and feelings created through the adoption process.
On behalf of our clients, attorney Greenwood will:
- Conduct background checks
- Help monitor the mother’s medical condition (including random drug screens, if needed)
- Assist pregnant women in obtaining WIC, Medicaid and state and federal services for proper obstetric care
BRINGING FLORIDA FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH FOREIGN ADOPTION
In international adoption, we help clients locate reputable international adoption agencies that will help them clear consular obstacles with foreign governments, arrange for travel to the country if necessary, and collect available medical records and family history, when possible.
When our clients return to Florida with the new addition to their family, we will help them complete all necessary legal work for recognition of their foreign adoption and/or name change for their new child.
INTERSTATE ADOPTIONS IN FLORIDA
Our office also helps clients in interstate adoptions, bringing birth mothers and adoptive couples together to find caring, loving homes for children. Our office has a number of resources to assist birth mothers with living expenses, skills training, medical assistance and counseling.
Because we are interested in finding homes for children where they can flourish, we refuse to act simply as a “placement” agency; rather, we take steps to ensure that the health and well-being of mother and baby are protected.
Note: Brandon Family Law Center, LLC, does not conduct home studies. However, we work with reputable agencies and licensed professionals who can conduct a thorough home study of the adoptive parents, as well as provide necessary social services to birth parents.
STEP PARENT AND GRANDPARENT ADOPTION
We assist in the formal adoption of stepchildren and grandchildren, obtaining consent from the natural parent or initiating termination of rights in cases of abandonment. Mary Greenwood McDermotthas participated in more than 750 relative parental custody actions, such as placement with grandparents or other family members, which often will end up as a family adoption.
Contact our Florida, international and interstate adoptions attorney with the experience and compassion to handle all aspects of the adoption process and assure the smoothest transition possible. Call us at 813-653-1744 , or write us using this link.
