Gloucester County Adoption Lawyers located in Woodbury, NJ
Trusted Woodbury Adoption Attorneys Help Clients Through the Adoption Process in Gloucester County and Throughout South Jersey
Known as the happiest area of family law, adoptions are the manner in which a family can become complete. There are many ways a family can come into the adoption process, be it by way of a same-sex relationship where the adoption is needed to protect the rights of the non-biological parent, through a step-parent adoption, adult adoption, or when your family is made complete through the foster care system. Regardless of how you came to the decision to adopt, Smedley Law Group can travel with you on this exciting journey.
Smedley Law Group is on the roster as a firm approved by the Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P) to represent foster parents looking to complete their families through the adoption process.
If you’re a parent facing an application for the adoption of your child, we recognize that your rights are important and deserve protection. These proceedings can be fraught with emotion, and for that reason, it’s important to have a partner by your side who can work to protect your relationship with your child. Failure to take action in the face of such an application can have lifelong implications.
At Smedley Law Group, we’re here to advocate for your rights. To learn more about how we can help you through the exciting, yet sometimes challenging, adoption process in New Jersey, contact us today to arrange a consultation.
We Handle All Types of Adoption Cases
Our experienced lawyers handle all types of adoption cases, from the relatively simple to the complex. We can help with:
- Closed adoptions
- Contested adoptions
- Private adoptions
- Stepparent adoptions
- LGBTQ adoption
- Grandparent adoptions
- International adoptions
- Out-of-state adoption
- And more.
Private adoptions are perhaps the most common form of adoption. A private adoption is an arrangement between biological and adoptive parents. Usually, an adoption agency is involved (although one isn’t strictly required). However, a private adoption can take on many different forms. Private adoptions can be accomplished through:
- Domestic Adoptions. Domestic adoptions take place within the U.S. They can be accomplished entirely within the state of New Jersey, or you may wish to adopt a child in another state. Out-of-state private adoptions can be slightly more complex because it’s necessary to consider the laws of both states. Our lawyers are here to help, no matter what the circumstances.
- International Adoptions. Many parents choose to adopt children from foreign countries. If this is your case, we’ll examine the laws of the child’s country of origin to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible for your family.
Whether you’re working with an agency or not, it’s always advisable to have an experienced adoption attorney in your corner. We can help prevent complications from arising—and work to smooth over any bumps in the road along the way.
Why It’s Important to Hire an Experienced Adoption Attorney
Even if you’ve already decided which type of adoption option you wish to pursue, it’s important to be represented by someone who understands the process and can advocate for your rights. Here are some of the key ways an attorney can help:
- Adoption is a document-intensive process. Our lawyers are familiar with this paperwork—we’ll make sure your application is complete and that all court proceedings and legal documents are properly completed along the way.
- Adoption can be invasive. Before you are approved to legally adopt a child, you’ll be required to undergo a rigorous screening process. Our attorneys will ensure that you understand that process and that your rights are protected. We’ll help smooth any issues that might arise during the home-study process.
- The child’s parent continues to have rights. Until the adoption is finalized, your child’s biological parents continue to have rights. If the child’s parents were incarcerated or institutionalized, it’s important to have a family law attorney to advocate for your right to full custody.
Even if the adoption process proceeds perfectly, it’s always a good idea to get the advice of someone who’s done this before. You have enough to think about—after all, you have a child on the way. Our lawyers will make sure you know what to expect and help to ease the transition for your growing family.
Call to Schedule a Consultation With an Experienced Woodbury, NJ Adoption Lawyer Today
Deciding to expand your family through adoption is an exciting step for your family. It’s important to have a family law attorney you can trust by your side throughout the entire process. To learn more about how our lawyers at Smedley Law Group can help you expand your family through adoption, contact us today for a consultation.
- Locations Served in Gloucester County
- Clayton Deptford Township
- East Greenwich Elk Township
- Franklin Township Glassboro
- Greenwich Township Harrison Township
- Logan Township Mantua Township
- Monroe Township National Park
- Newfield Paulsboro
- Pitman South Harrison
- Swedesboro Washington Township
- Wenonah West Deptford
- Westville Woodbury
- Woodbury Heights Woolwich Township
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Adoption
Yes. Adopting a stepchild is a wonderful way to show unity within the family. However, it’s also a legal process. The child can only have two legal parents—meaning that the child’s biological parent will have to terminate their parental rights so you can complete the adoption.
Termination of parental rights can happen in a number of different ways—usually, it’s either voluntary or court-ordered. Our lawyers can help make sure your adoption is legally accomplished so that your rights are protected. Termination can happen because the biological parent has abandoned the child. It can also be ordered because the biological parent has abused or neglected the child.
It’s important to understand that a biological parent’s rights aren’t terminated simply because the parent rarely sees the child. Even if the two parties have little contact, that usually isn’t enough for the court to terminate parental rights.
Yes. Surrogates have parental rights simply by the act of carrying the child. In order for you to gain those rights, the parental rights of the surrogate must first be terminated. Our lawyers can help you through this complicated process—if you’re considering surrogacy, call us as soon as possible so we can take steps to protect your legal rights from step one.
