Adoption Process

Adoption, at heart, is creating a family

Through a special process, adoptive parent(s) assume legal parental responsibilities for a child. A new birth certificate is created recognizing the adoptive parents as the child’s biological parents (in most cases). The rights and rules regarding adoption are laid out in the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 26.33. Becoming an adoptive parent is an important decision and choosing to adopt has lifelong impacts on children, their birth and adoptive parents, and extended families. Our attorneys can educate you on the ripple effects of adoption and guide you through the process.

There are many types of adoptions. At Deno Millikan, we assist clients with:

• Adoption – Occasionally children are in situations where someone needs to become their parent, but the potential adoptive parent is not a step-parent.  These adoptions may occur where a relative takes over parenting roles and wishes to formalize the relationship or a where another person or couple is willing to build a family through adoption, or where an unmarried couple wishes to adopt the other partner’s child. The birth parents will have to terminate his or her parental rights to allow the child to be adopted.  This may occur by agreement or be a contested issue.

• Step-parent adoption – By far, the most common type of adoption occurs when a stepparent adopts the child from his or her partner’s previous relationship. The non-custodial parent will have to terminate his or her parental rights to allow the stepparent to adopt the child. It is possible for an unmarried partner to adopt, but the process is more involved.

A step-parent adoption can be a relatively straightforward process if the birth parent willingly signs the necessary paperwork to relinquish his or her rights. This enables the whole process to move along much more smoothly and quickly. An investigation by a guardian ad litem or social worker will still need to happen prior to requesting court approval of the adoption, but again, with the former parent’s consent, it is a far easier process.

If, on the other hand, the birth parent does not willingly relinquish his or her parental rights, the process of adoption can become more complicated if the other parent’s rights must be terminated over his or her objection.

If you are considering an adoption, we can help. Whether you are hoping to adopt as a step-parent or through other means, it is important to understand all your rights and responsibilities, how the process is conducted, what you need to do to be prepared and what you can expect each step of the way.

Your attorney will:

•Help you work on an adoption plan that suits your family’s needs

•Draw up the necessary paperwork and file with the proper agencies

•Help you understand and prepare for the state-required post-placement study

•Offer counsel and options should speed bumps occur

•Represent your best interests throughout the proceedings

To begin exploring your options and work on an adoption plan for your family, we invite you to contact our family law team at Deno Millikan. We can assist in adoption cases in Everett, greater Snohomish County, and the surrounding areas.

Give us a call at 425-259-2222.