There Are Many Things To Think About When Adopting A Child In Massachusetts

If you’ve been considering or even planning to adopt a child it can be an amazing time in your life. However, it can also be a bit frustrating and downright confusing. For example, there is a ton of red tape that you will need to sort through. There is also a significant amount of documentation that you will need. It can be enough to make your head explode. The good news is that you or you and your significant other certainly do not need to go through the process alone. If you work with a family law attorney who takes on adoption cases the process will go a lot smoother.

It will also greatly increase your chances of having a successful adoption. As you can clearly see there are many things to think about when adopting a child in Massachusetts. For example, you need to figure out which method of adoption will work best for your situation. There are actually multiple methods of adoption that are allowed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The legal process varies for each one of them. You can start the adoption process by fostering a child and then adopt that child directly through the Department of Children and Families.

If you end up utilizing this adoption method it is highly suggested that you hire a family law attorney to represent you. Your adoption attorney will explain the process to you from start to finish. They will also help you sort through the stacks of paperwork. The second accepted method of adoption is a private adoption. It can be done directly with the legal guardian or guardians of the child or through a local adoption agency. Once again, it is highly advised to work with a family law attorney who will represent your best interests.

You can also work with an international adoption agency in order to adopt your child from another country. A great deal of parents find this to be a successful method because it opens up the potential of having more children available for adoption. If you decide to adopt a child from another country you should work with a local family law lawyer to help you sort through the process and procedures involved with adopting internationally. There are a few legal requirements if you want to adopt a child in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

First and foremost you must be over 21 years old. You need to either rent or own a home that includes a sufficient amount of space and safety measures for the child. In addition, you will be required to finalize a home study and  take part in a background check. The home study can be waived in certain situations. Please consult with a family lawyer in order to determine if your home study can be waived. In essence, a home study means that a caseworker will determine if you are fit to be a parent to an adopted child. The caseworker will verify your employment.

They may even take a look at your medical record in order to determine if you’re in good physical shape. The caseworker will also conduct an assessment of your current living situation to make sure that you will be providing the child with a safe environment. You will also be required to partake in classes in person or online that will prepare you for both the adoption process and the various aspects of becoming a parent. As you can see there is considerable amount of obstacles to hurdle. The help of a family law attorney who practices adoption law will go a long way in helping you stay focused on the task at hand. https://yourlegalrightsadvocates.com/blog/2018/12/parenting-time-massachusetts/

You will also need to think about whether or not you should partake in an open adoption. That means the child would keep in contact with his or her biological parents. Depending on your situation and the biological parents situation this may or may not be a good idea. However, if everyone is on the same page it can prove to be advantageous for the child, the parents who are adopting the child, and the biological parents. An open adoption may even include in person contact or visitation between the child and the biological parents. In many open adoptions the biological grandparents are involved in the child’s life.

If you reside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and need help adopting a child please contact your Legal Rights Advocates today.