Athens GA Child Adaption Lawyer

ATHENS GA CHILD ADAPTION LAWYER

Adopting a child is a joyous event. It is also a legal process that can have frustrating delays and obstacles. The Athens GA Adoption lawyer Samuel E. Thomas is dedicated to representing and guiding you through the adoption

process in a streamlined and cost-effective manner. Seek legal advice early in the process to ensure that there will be no unpleasant surprises later.

If you are interested in adopting, we invite you to contact our firm to discuss which adoption avenue is best suited for you.

Are You Considering a Related Adoption?

If you are in the process of adopting from a family member then the adoption may be considered a related adoption. A skilled Athens GA adoption lawyer will ensure that the adoption process moves smoothly with no legal complications.

Legal Issues Associated With Related Adoptions

While a related adoption may seem to be an easier process than going through an agency or adopting from a different country, it can actually bring its own set of issues. Having the adopted child stay in the same family as the birth parent(s) can either be awkward and complicated. Use an Athens GA Adoption lawyer to make sure everyone’s interests are protected.

Many of the adoptions our lawyer handles are by stepparents or relatives who wish to adopt a child already living with them. In these cases, the biological parent is either absent from the child’s life or unable to care for the child. In addition to giving the child the security of a permanent parent-child relationship, adoption gives the adoptive parent all the same legal rights as a biological parent.
As part of the adoption process, the rights of the biological parent or parents must be terminated. A full and complete termination is essential to ensure that the biological parent does not try to undo the adoption later. If the biological parent does not wish to voluntarily terminate his or her rights, there are a number of grounds that Georgia courts will consider when deciding whether those rights should be terminated involuntarily.