Adoption Archives - Randle Palmer & Associates

Biological Parental Rights After Adoption

Written by rpbstaging on October 6, 2021. Posted in Adoption, Parental Rights.

Adoption is a permanent, life-long commitment. You must give it careful thought before making any final decision. Around 135,000 children were adopted every year in the United States. Of those 15% were voluntarily relinquished babies. Once the adoption is finalized, the birth parents cannot do anything. They have relinquished their parental rights and responsibilities.

The adoptive parents, however, do have the right to make decisions for their adoptive children. They can enroll them in school, make medical decisions, set boundaries, etc. There are certain circumstances when they allow the biological parent(s) visitation rights. But this is done at their discretion.

If you are considering adopting, this article walks you through parental rights. Above all, it talks about the legal and parental rights of birth parents after adoption.

Do Birth Parents Have Any Rights After Adoption?

No! The birth parents do not have any parental rights to the child after adoption. If you are the adoptive parents, you make all decisions and have full legal rights. You are also financially responsible for the child until they are legally an adult.

“Post-adoption contact agreements” are contracts that allow two families to meet with each other. They give families peace of mind and keep the children out of harm’s way.

What Are the Rights of Biological Parents After Adoption?

When the finalized by the court, the biological parents lose all legal rights to the child. That means that the biological parents do not have the right to decide on behalf of the child. She also doesn’t have the right to petition for legal custody, even visitation.

The first step of the adoption process is the termination of parental rights. Birth parents generally surrender their rights by choice when they choose adoption. But, if it is involuntary, the court will terminate the rights whether or not the birth parents accept. For example, this happens in the case of abuse and neglect.

On the other hand, the court will not accept the voluntary termination of rights if you do not consent to adoption. The parents have to choose a qualified couple through an adoption agency.

Adoptive parents have a duty to notify the biological parents in case of severe illness or death. But, they should not contact for personal reasons such as graduations and marriages. This might lead to confusing situations that will hamper your relationship with your child.

What Are the Parental Rights of Biological Parents in the Adoption Context?

The rights and duties of the biological parents end once the adoption is final. The birth parent does not have any obligation towards his/her child. Moreover, you also lose physical custody and the right to make decisions for the child.

At this point, adoptive parents gain full legal and physical guardianship of the child. But, it is rare that the adoptive family will consider an open adoption arrangement. Nevertheless, some families do come forward for the greater good. In the case of open adoptions, the birth and adoptive parents agree on visitation rights and regular updates. If there is no such agreement, it will depend on the adoptive parents.

Do Biological Parents Have Visitation Rights?

Biological Parental Rights to Visitation - Custody Battle

As adoptive parents, you have the sole authority to decide on the visitation rights or not. However, you should not refuse visitation rights out of spite or malice. Instead, it should be based on the best interest of the adoptive child.

Visitation rights enable the child to maintain a healthy bond with the birth family. This can help create strong bonds in the future. But, this will happen only if they are aware of their legal rights while allowing visitation.

Can Adoptive Parents Terminate Contact with Birth Parents?

Generally, adoptive parents are not required to communicate with birth parents after adoption. The only exception is any severe illness or death. In such cases, they immediately contact the biological parent(s). But, parents of adoptive children should let them develop a relationship if they wish so.

How Can Adoptive Parents Respect Birth Parents’ Rights After Adoption?

There are ways adoptive families show they value their adoptive child’s biological family. For example, the occasional visit or photo exchange between biological and adoptive parents. This helps keep the birth parent involved in the child’s life. And, this doesn’t mean that the adoptive family(s) doesn’t have the decision-making power. Apart from visitation rights, the following can help maintain a healthy relationship:

Exchange photos
Communicate via e-mail or video chat
Regular phone contact

What Is Contact Between Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents?

Establishing contact between birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child is vital. It helps both the families to connect and form a healthy relationship.

The birth mother should play a full role in choosing whom to become parents for their baby child. In most cases, birth parents meet with prospective adoptive parents during the pregnancy. Once the adoption happened, they would send the birth mother letters and pictures. It is generally done in monthly format every six months and then every year. The adoptive family will send photographs and letters to the newborn’s parents.

Can a Birth Parent Receive Counseling?

Every natural parent has the right to counseling before and after adoptive placement. It will help them to deal with emotional and physical trauma.

Birth mothers are at greater risk of experiencing depression due to negative feelings such as guilt and shame. Therefore, pre-adoption counseling is beneficial for both adoptive and birth mothers. This is because it helps them deal with their feelings in a positive manner. It also helps the birth parents to grasp the possible issues that may arise after adoption.

Important Adoption Parental Rights You’ll Have as a Biological Mother

Adoption is a fantastic experience. But it can also be scary for both the adoptive and birth parents. As the birth mother of your child, you have many rights that you should know about. Here are some critical adoption rights to keep in mind if you’re making an adoption plan:

The Parental Right to Choose Adoptive Parents for Your Child

You have the legal authority over who will adopt and raise your baby. Many birth mothers feel more comfortable choosing adoptive family(s) that are of a similar age, ethnicity, or religion. It is also common for adoptive families to be on their second marriage—or even married at all!

You can choose parents that share your values and beliefs. But it is important to remember that everyone is different.

The Parental Right to Change Your Mind at Any Time Before Signing the Legal Paperwork

Many birth mothers spend months or even years trying to decide on an adoption plan. It’s legal to change your mind before adoptive parents sign the legal paperwork. All you need is to explain why. This could be because the adoptive family(s) changed their minds. Or has other children that they lost to the social services. They can also refuse if the adoptive parents refuse to provide medical information.

The Parental Right to Information About the Financial Situation and Parenting Abilities

Right to Financial Info - Bank Statement

Adoptive parents should give you their financial information to help make an informed decision. Some birth mothers prefer parents to have money, education, or other resources necessary for providing a good life. But this is not always the case. Sometimes the adoptive family could be living off of one income or even have student loan debt.

You will also want to know whether the parents plan on teaching your birth culture and/or religion. Finally, you should ask about their exposure to your language if you want your child to learn it later in life.

The Parental Right to Visit Adopted Child After Adoption Finalization

Visitation can be good for the adoptive child. The adoptive parents can give you the chance to see your baby after adoption.

Adoptive families may offer a visit with the adoptive child at their home. If not, they can also come and meet you somewhere else—like a park! Visits usually last an hour or two to start. But over time, they may be open to extending it.

Can an Adopted Child Claim Right to His/Her Biological Father’s Property?

No! Once adopted, the child cannot lay any claim to his/her biological father’s property. This is because the adoption process terminated the child’s legal rights. So the adopted child cannot claim to have any right to the property.

Does an Adopted Child Have Inheritance Rights from Birth Parents?

No! Once adopted, the child doesn’t have inheritance rights from the birth parents. This is because they are not the legal guardian of the child. The adoptive parents are. Hence the adopted children don’t have any inheritance rights from birth parents!

However, It doesn’t mean that the birth parent cannot include the child in his/her will. If the birth parents provide for the child in their will, no one can take that away from the child.

Can Biological Parents Regain Custody Post-Adoption?

No! Once the child is adopted, the biological parent doesn’t have any legal right let alone regain guardianship. After the child’s adoption, the adoptive parent has the legal right. They are responsible for their adopted children until they turn 18 or 21 in some states.

Biological parents can take back their consent to adoption if one or more of the following is found to be true:

The birth parents were…
- Forced into giving up their child for adoption against their will.
- Compelled to sign the relinquishment document either under duress or fraud.
The adoptive parents failed to…
- Provide proper care and/or education to the adopted child.
- Meet the minimum pre-placement requirements.
- Provide financial support or they abandoned the child.
- Uphold their parental responsibilities and obligations to the child.

Many judges will ignore a hearing at first for lack of standing. But in theory, they should permit the petition to succeed and will grant a custody order if standing is found.

How Do I Revoke My Consent for Adoption?

Revoking the consent for adoption is a double-edged sword. For the birth parents, the ability to revoke consent is a second chance to have their child back.

But, on the other hand, revocation is demanding on the adoptive parents. It will be especially on those looking to adopt for a long time.

Revocation of consent is not easy to get approved by the court. The adoptive family can also oppose it if they are willing to keep the child in their custody. The consent revocation for adoption varies from state to state. Hence, ensure that you talk with an adoption attorney before making a decision.

Once the birth parents consent to the adoption, they have seven days to revoke the consent. The seven-day timeline includes the weekend and holidays. However, if the seventh day falls on a weekend, you would have to wait until the next business day.

The adoptive parents will be notified when the birth parent consents to the adoption. But they won’t know about revocation unless or until it is filed in court and served.

It is hard to predict how long it would take for a judge to consider your motion. But if you are lucky, they might answer within 30 days. In any case, there is a chance for the adoptive parents to oppose your motion for revocation.

If the court denies revoking the consent, you can still appeal that decision in higher courts. But chances are very rare for it will be granted.

Conclusion

Adoption is a personal and permanent decision. Choosing to adopt a child means making a lifelong commitment with no going back.

Once you have given consent to adoption, you cannot take it back. Even if the other person does not do a good job or changes their mind, they will still raise your baby. However, under certain circumstances, you can revoke your consent but within seven days of consent.

If you are still interested in adoption, contact the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). They can guide you about how to begin the process before making any final decisions! You may also want to have a law firm on retainer for any legal advice. One such law firm that comes highly recommended is Randle, Palmer & Associates. They have many years of experience in their practice of adoption and parental rights and can assist you with any issues or concerns you may have. Contact Randle, Palmer & Associates for your free consultation today!

Guide to the Rights of an Adopted Child

Written by rpbstaging on August 26, 2021. Posted in Adopted Children's Rights, Adoption.

Rights of an Adopted Child

Adoption changes the relationship once and for all, including the right to inherit. The parental rights of the biological parents are severed while a new relationship is formed.

The adoption process substitutes the child’s birth family with the adoptive parents. Hence, biological and adopted children have equal rights in the eyes of the law.

But this creates a new set of questions regarding the rights of the adopted children. This article takes you through the rights of an adopted child, inheritance, and much more.

What Are the Rights of an Adopted Child?

Adopted children have the same rights as biological children, including being legal heirs. The child is the legitimate child by all means. And as such has the right to receive support(both emotional and financial) from both parents. Furthermore, the law also treats the adopted children and biological children the same at all times. Adoptive parents have the legal responsibility to provide and care for the children until they are 18.

Do Adopted Kids Have More Rights than Biological Kids?

No! As per the adopted child inheritance law, the adopted children have the same rights as biological children. This includes the assets and the inheritance. In the eyes of the law, both the children are the same. It doesn’t differentiate between biological and adopted children.

Is a Legally Adopted Child Entitled to an Inheritance?

An adopted child is entitled to an inheritance from the adoptive parents and other descendants. He or she can also stake a claim to the property and assets of their parents. In the same line, adoptive parents are also entitled to inherit from the adopted children.

What Are the Inheritance Rights of an Adopted Child?

As per the intestate succession laws, the adopted and biological children are equal. Therefore, adopted children have equal rights when it comes to inheritance. Furthermore, they also have the right to inherit, like the natural children. The inheritance rights of the child include:

Inheritance Rights of an Adopted Child - Last Will & Testament

Under intestacy law, the adopted child has the right to receive property. If the adoptive parent dies without a will, both birth and adopted children have a right to the estate. The same is true even if the parents die without a will. Furthermore, they can also contest or challenge the wills if needed. This right also extends to other relatives like grandparents.
He/she has the right to a portion of the parent’s estate if left out of the will. If the adoptive parent dies without changing the will, the adopted child will receive a portion of the inheritance.

While these are common for most states, there can be a few changes depending on the local laws. However, to protect the rights of an adopted child, the parents have to make a valid will. The will contains the details about who is to inherit what and how much. This ensures the outcome as you desire concerning the inheritance rights.

Contact a probate lawyer for legal advice. Depending on the circumstances of the estate, he/she will help you with your query.

Is an Adopted Child Considered an Heir?

Under the next of kin laws, legally adopted children are heirs to their parent’s estate. The law has no doesn’t distinguish between an adopted and biological child.

Can You Exclude Adopted Children from Their Inheritance?

Like biological children, parents can exclude adopted children from their inheritance. However, the parent has to put this in writing using precise language. It should be apparent that disinheriting is the parent’s intent at that point in time. Otherwise, the child can inherit their portion as an overlooked heir. In the absence of the will, everything goes to the surviving spouse. If the spouse doesn’t survive, the state divides the estate among all the children.

Can an Adopted Child Inherit from Biological Parents?

The adoption process changes the relationship between a child and the birth parent. The adopted person cannot inherit from the biological parents. He/she does not have any right to the birth parent’s estate or assets. By adopting, the biological family is substituted by the adoptive family. However, the birth parent can provide for the child in the will. In this case, the birth parent has to mention the child as a beneficiary for them to inherit. As long as none of the family members object to your inclusion and challenge the will, the request will be honored. However, if the birth parent dies without a will, an adopted son cannot claim the estate.

Can an Adopted Child Sue Birth Parents?

After adoption, adopted children do not have a legal relationship with the birth parents. And the biological parents are no longer considered his/her parents. As such, they cannot sue the birth parents for a part of the inheritance. However, it depends on the circumstances and the age. If the child depends on the birth parents somewhat or wholly, they can contest the will.

If you believe you have the grounds to sue, contact an estate lawyer for assistance. Else you can use a lawyer referral service to find the right lawyer for your situation.

Does the Biological Father Have Rights After Adoption?

After adoption, the state terminates the legal parent-child relationship between the child and the biological parents. Generally, the birth father will have rights to the child during the process of adoption. However, once the adoption is final, the birth father will have little if any rights.

Conclusion

In the eyes of the law, both the adopted children and biological children are the same. As such, they inherit a portion of the estate after the death of the biological parent. If you are worried about your child’s inheritance, ensure that you leave a clear will. And do it in the presence of a lawyer who specializes in inheritance.

In addition, keep the will up-to-date with the current information. This will help to protect the rights of the adopted children.

Contact an estate lawyer for all your questions related to adopted child property rights. If you are considering adopting a child or need assistance with an adopted child’s rights, please contact Randle Palmer & Associates for your free consultation today!

Domestic Infant Adoption

Written by rpbstaging on February 24, 2021. Posted in Adoption.

Infant Adoption - Couple Considering Adopting a Baby Around 140,000 children are adopted by American families each year. While many people choose to explore adopting from a foreign country or through the foster care system, domestic infant adoption is a third option. The first step to understand your adoption choices is to take a closer look at the infant adoption process. What is domestic adoption? How does it work? What are the pros and cons of this form of adoption? Is domestic infant adoption the right fit for your family?

What Is Domestic Infant Adoption?

Domestic infant adoption is a voluntary, permanent placement of a baby for adoption. The birth parents may choose to work with an adoption agency or arrange for private adoption. The match between birth families and prospective adoptive families happens before the baby is born. The adoption process cannot be completed without the assistance of an adoption attorney or a reputable adoption agency.

What Are the Benefits?

The adoptive parents can bond with the child from birth instead of after a child is in the foster care system.
Birth parents and adoptive parents can choose open adoption.
Other children in the family can participate in the adoption process.
Increases the possibility that the extended family will bond with the adoptee.

Benefits of Bonding in the Infant Adoption Process

Being at the hospital (often in the delivery room) is a huge advantage to domestic newborn adoption programs. Bonding with a newborn will aid in the child’s overall development. Studies have shown that bonding with a newborn decreases the risk of disease; boosts immunity against viruses and bacteria; enhanced a child’s IQ; and much more. When an adoptive parent, adoptive sibling, or extended family have the chance to engage in skin-to-skin contact with a newborn, the baby is also more likely to have positive emotional development.

The bonding experience also benefits the birth parents. They have the chance to see the adoptive parents interact with their birth child. The interaction helps build confidence in their choice of adoptive families and eases their emotions through the rest of the adoption process.

What Is an Open Adoption?

An open adoption agreement varies depending on the wishes of the birth parents and adoptive parents. In most cases, an open adoption means that the prospective adoptive parents can engage in the full pregnancy experience, including providing housing and expenses for a mother during her pregnancy.

After the baby is born, the adoptive family may continue to share letters, photos, and other forms of communication with the birth family. This form of adoption may also include the ability to have face-to-face visits between the birth families and the adoptee. Most modern adoptions are semi-open to open.

What Are the Benefits of an Open Domestic Adoption?

Birth families benefit by keeping in contact with the child after the adoption.
The adoption transition is less traumatic for the birth families.
Adoptive families have access to important medical history that only a birth parent can provide.
The adopted child is less likely to go through an identity crisis later in life.

Can I Close an Open Adoption?

As mentioned before, no two open adoptions are the same. Most of the time, an open adoption is a verbal agreement that allows birth parents and adoptive parents to maintain contact. In this case, the adoptive parents can choose to change the terms of the agreement at any time. The decision to end contact with the birth parents could cause lasting emotional damage to the adopted child. If you are uncertain about allowing the birth family full access, some adoptive families choose a semi-open adoption. This path allows birth parents and their families to receive updates and photos from the adoptive parents without having direct contact with the child.

In some states, legally binding open adoption arrangements are allowed. Be aware that a lawfully binding open adoption is almost impossible to nullify, regardless of the circumstances. The best option for the child is to decide the right fit for your family before the adoption is complete and stick with it unless the adopted child’s safety is in question. Your adoption attorney can help you determine the best adoption plan for you.

What Is the Domestic Infant Adoption Process?

Find an adoption professional – It is essential to work with a legitimate agency or attorney to ensure that your adoption is fully legal. Working with an adoption professional also protects you from fraud.
Complete a home study – This process is often the most stressful, lengthy part of the process. You cannot adopt a child without this step.
Find a birth mother – After you complete the home study process, you can begin searching for an infant to adopt. If you are working with an agency, they will help you find a match.
Choose a pre-placement contact and adoption type – Once a match is found, you will need to determine what kind of adoption you want to pursue—open, semi-opened, or closed. Parents who wish to place their child for adoption must agree with your adoption type.
Hospital and placement – Once the birth mother goes into labor, you will travel to the hospital. The birth mother must consent to the adoption after the birth. The birth father should have already terminated his legal rights by this point.
Post-placement and finalization – There is usually a 3-6 month waiting period before the adoption becomes final. These final steps include post-placement visits by the social worker, final legal clearances, and one last court appearance before a judge to finalize your adoption.

Law Firm vs Adoption Agency – Which Is Best for You?

Domestic Infant Adoption - Law Firm Versus Adoption Agency Pros and Cons Each type of adoption professional has advantages and disadvantages. Some adoptive parents can skip the agency matching process by finding their own prospective match, but all families interested in adopting must hire an adoption lawyer. Reputable adoption professionals want the best for everyone involved. They understand that adopting a child is a serious decision, and they will be with you every step of the way. They are a great resource and can answer any questions you have about adoptions in your state.

Adoption Resources Available

National Agencies – Domestic infant adoption agencies provide matching, advertising, guidance, and other services to families and birth mothers across the country. They are a great resource if you would like to adopt a child.
Regional Agencies – Unlike national agencies, regional agencies specialize in a particular area, which is good for families who want to adopt closer to home.
Adoption Law Firms – Legally, you only need an adoption attorney to complete the process of adopting a newborn. However, they do not have the same matching and support services that agencies have.
Adoption Law Centers and Facilitators – Providing little more than matching services, law centers and facilitators can pass adoptive families on to other adoption professionals after the match.

What Is a Home Study?

The home study process is an evaluation used by the courts to determine if a person or couple can offer a stable home environment for a placement (adoptee). All adoptions, regardless of the type, must complete this review. This process includes a criminal background check; a review of your finances; an in-depth look at your relationships; and much more. In the United States, you cannot move on to finding an adoption match until you complete this step. This process is the most stressful part of the process because of its intrusive nature. A successful home study requires you to be prepared and transparent.

Be Prepared in Advance

Make sure you have access to all your legal documents – birth certificates; marriage license; medical records; and much more.
Prepare each member of the adoptive household to complete an interview with a licensed social worker.
Adoptive families will need to pass an extensive state and federal background check.
Be prepared to provide character references from friends, family, and co-workers.
Prepare your home before the home inspections (Ex: baby-proof the house).

Who Conducts the Review?

A licensed social worker conducts the review of the prospective parents’ life and resources. In addition to collecting information about the prospective parents, the social worker will want to review your support system. The court sometimes assigns the social worker. In some states, you will need to find a qualified professional in your area. Each state or county has a different policy related to who can conduct the home study. Your agency representative or adoption attorney can help you find a home study provider near you.

What Happens During a Home Study?

The social worker will conduct interviews and inspect your home. The purpose of this process is to determine your motives for adopting and your preparedness for bringing an infant into your life. As mentioned before, this process is time-consuming. It can also be very stressful. At the end of the process, the social worker will complete the home study report.

What Is the Home Study Report?

The social worker assigned to your case will submit a written report outlining their findings. Adoption agencies use this report to create a family profile as part of the adoptive family selection process. State governments and courts require this document to ensure the legality of the adoption placement. Once this report is submitted, you are considered an “active” adoption match.

Infant Adoption – How Long Does it Take to Find a Match?

The time between activation and matching your family profile with a birth mother is known as your wait time, and it can vary based on several factors. You can increase the chances of a short wait time by being flexible with your adoptee preferences.

Types of Adoption Preferences

Race and Gender – If you are only interested in adopting a child of a certain race or gender, your wait time may be longer because your profile will only be shown to prospective birth mothers who match your preferences.
Medical History – It’s rare for anyone, including prospective birth mothers, to have a completely clean bill of health. If any medical conditions worry you, such as bipolar disorder, speak with a doctor about your concerns. He or she may be able to alleviate your worries about potential health risks.
Adoption Type – If you intend to pursue a closed adoption, which involves no contact with the birth family, this could significantly increase your wait time. Most birth mothers today are interested in sharing at least some contact with the adoptive family and child, so if you are only interested in a closed adoption, you will not be a match for those situations. It’s preferable that you accept at least a semi-open adoption, which is what about 90 percent of birth mothers are seeking.

Is Domestic Infant Adoption Expensive?

On average, the full domestic adoption costs in the United States may range from $20,000 – $50,000. These costs vary depending on the agency or attorney you select. The longer it takes to find the right match, the more these expenses may climb. There are also court fees to keep in mind. Depending on the arrangement you make, there may be temporary cost-of-living expenses, medical expenses, or other costs related to prenatal care. Like all parents, preparing your home for the arrival of a newborn is also costly.

Is Domestic Infant Adoption Right for You?

Domestic Infant Adoption - Is it Right for You? It is no secret that choosing to adopt a baby is a huge commitment. No two adoption stories are the same. If you are thinking about completing a domestic infant adoption, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, your search could take a long time. Be patient. Second, there are many fraudulent adoption programs. You can avoid these traps by gathering plenty of information before you commit or exchange money. Third, do not be afraid to ask questions. The more questions you ask, the less heartache you could face in the future. Fourth, do you have enough support? Whether it is your first child or your fifth, adopting a child comes with many unexpected needs. Familiarize yourself with the programs available to get you any additional support. Yes, adoption is hard work, but it is worth it in the end!

If you are considering adopting a child, please contact Randle Palmer & Associates for a consultation today!

(Further reading on adopting an infant child)