Adoption enables an individual or couple to bring a child into their family and offers help to parents who cannot presently care for their children. Our seasoned adoption attorneys at Cole, Guindi & Pienkowski represent birth parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents in adoption proceedings.
If you need assistance with this time-consuming and stressful process, our team can provide critical information about time frames, set expectations about the proceedings, and prepare accurate and complete documents. Contact our team today to discuss the benefits of a Knoxville adoption attorney.
The Home Study
Tennessee Code § 36-1-116 requires all parents petitioning a court to adopt a child to undertake a home study, with the exception of relative and step-parent adoptions at the court’s discretion. The application to become a foster parent through the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) includes a home study to be used if you decide to adopt through the agency. Private adoption agencies usually conduct the home study themselves or hire a contractor for this aspect of the screening process.
Prospective adopters may find the rigorous home study process intrusive and stressful. They and other members of their household must complete a comprehensive questionnaire and provide extensive supporting documentation. The reviewing agency then schedules at least one visit to the home to assess its suitability and conduct in-person interviews with the residents.
Our Knoxville lawyers can provide helpful guidance and support throughout the home study and other phases of the adoption process. We can help you compose answers to sensitive questionnaire topics, ensuring your documentation’s accuracy and completeness. Let us share our knowledge about home visit evaluations so you know what to expect.
What Makes a Child Available for Adoption?
A child cannot be freed for adoption if either birth parent retains their parental rights. When an unmarried pregnant mother chooses to give up her child for adoption, she must sign a legal form surrendering her rights to the baby. A married expectant mother and her spouse must both release their parental rights for adoption to be possible.
The agency handling the adoption must take responsibility for securing the surrender and ensuring its legal validity. Our team can scrutinize such adoption documents to ensure they include proof of the surrender or termination of the birth parents’ rights. If you decide on a private, independent adoption, we can prepare the necessary surrender documents and execute them in accordance with all legal requirements.
Similarly, a child in the foster care system cannot become available for adoption until the birth parents finalize the termination of their rights. These proceedings can be lengthy and stressful if a birth parent contests the termination. Although foster parents and prospective adoptive parents do not usually participate in termination of parental rights proceedings, we can help you understand the timelines and legal process. Contact us for further information.
Call Our Knoxville Adoption Lawyers To Discuss How Our Services Can Help Your Family
Birth parents, foster parents, and those who are considering adoption to grow their families must understand the legal requirements of the process. If you fall into any of these categories, we want to hear your story. Our knowledgeable team at Cole, Guindi & Pienkowski has extensive adoption experience and can provide invaluable support. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of a Knoxville adoption attorney.