Adoption is a subject that may come up during or after a divorce, but it's an important issue that will affect a child's entire life. No matter what type of adoption issue you may be facing, it's important to obtain reliable legal counsel from a qualified Tacoma family law attorney.
The adoption lawyers at the Tacoma Washington Family Law Group are ready to help you navigate the complex legal waters of the Pierce County Family Court. Washington State family law states that if one or both parents lose their parental rights, their child becomes eligible for adoption.
In some situations, a parent may seek to relinquish their parental rights, which would allow their child to be adopted by another parent or relative. Numerous considerations should be made, so take time to go over the details with a Tacoma adoption attorney that understands how the law applies to any situation.
Our professional Tacoma adoption lawyers handle numerous divorce cases involving this sensitive subject. The vast majority of parents want what’s best for their children, so we offer reliable legal representation that will help you make decisions that accomplish this all-important goal.
Our Tacoma Adoption Attorney Can Help with Stepparent AdoptionWhen one parent relinquishes their parental rights so that their ex-spouse's new partner can petition the Tacoma court for adoption of their child, it's called a stepparent adoption. Our Tacoma adoption attorneys can help guide you through the steps of this relatively straightforward process, which will help you avoid potential pitfalls.
Stepparent adoptions are only possible when all parties agree to it. If one parent refuses to relinquish their parental rights, a forced termination is usually the only option left, but it’s only possible in certain situations. Our King county adoption attorneys will need to thoroughly assess your situation to see if a forced termination is possible if all other alternatives fail.
Your adoption case deserves personalized care from a lawyer that cares about the end result. Your attorney in Tacoma will ask you questions meant to help them better understand how to approach your case, and so that all of your legal options can be thoroughly reviewed.
The Pierce County family court may require you to obtain legal representation when dealing with adoption issues. Schedule a free consultation today and get all of the facts before taking any other action. Your free case evaluation is an opportunity to discuss your legal options with an experienced Tacoma family law attorney without risk or obligation.
Contact our law office in Tacoma, and find out how we can help you handle your adoption issue.
Other Adoption Situations in Tacoma that May Require a LawyerStepparent adoption is the most common adoption scenario our family law lawyers encounter, but there are other situations where retaining a lawyer is necessary. For example, LBGT couples seeking parental rights have special circumstances that must be acknowledged, and legal rights that must be protected. Same sex couples are legally allowed to adopt a child but there are special issues that must be addressed. Our Tacoma adoption lawyer can help in situations where one or both parents who are in a same sex relationship seek to adopt a biological, or non-biological, child.
One method our attorneys use to achieve this goal is through a process called Second Parent Adoption. Another is called Co-Parent Adoption, and the distinction is obvious. A Legal Presumption of Marriage is often used to establish that both parents are presumably the child's parents.
Co-Parent and Second Parent adoptions are similar to stepparent adoptions, but the parents are not required to be legally married in this scenario. Couples in same sex relationships can use these legal tools to protect their parental rights in adoption cases, and our Washington State lawyers can help decide which option has the best chance of success.
Contact a Tacoma adoption attorney today and make sure you get the legal guidance you need to protect your parental rights and ensure an adoption goes smoothly.