Adoption and Guardianship Lawyer in San Antonio Simplifying the Adoption Process
As adoption legislation becomes more and more complex, it is important to have San Antonio adoption lawyers who have experience in this area of law guide you through the complex adoption process.
Adoption laws vary from state-to-state, which is why hiring an experienced attorney in your jurisdiction is necessary when going through the adoption process. In Texas, for example, certain people are prohibited from adopting including anyone convicted of a felony crime against a minor, anyone considered neglectful or abusive towards one’s spouse or children, and more.
An experienced San Antonio adoption lawyer not only knows what each situation entails, they know how best to navigate this difficult area of law and get you on your way to becoming a new legal parent. Our law firm can also help with cases of guardianship and any type of adoption including independent adoption, foster adoption, and more. Whether you are a stepparent or a prospective adoptive parent, we want to help you get the results you deserve. Contact our law firm today at 210-775-0353 to get the help you need from an adoption attorney.
Is It Hard Filing for Adoption in San Antonio?
People often use the terms guardianship and adoption interchangeably. However, there is a great deal of difference between a legal guardianship and an adoption and it is important to understand the differences if considering either of these legal processes.
Guardianship awards an individual the responsibility to act as a temporary parent of a child
Adoption permanently relinquishes the rights and responsibilities of a child’s biological parents.
A legal guardianship occurs when an individual who is not a parent of the child is granted the rights of a parent. A legal guardian will assume all of the responsibilities that a parent would have, such as:
- financial and emotional support
- provide the child with the basic necessities required to survive
- ensure that the child is receiving a proper education
- ability to consent to medical treatment
There are many different forms of guardianship, and many of them will still allow the parents to be included in the life of the child. The guardianship may be revoked at any time if the parents show that they are able to adequately care for the child. Also, a guardianship will usually require that the parents of the child continue to provide financial support.
An adoption is the legal process by which an individual assumes all of the rights and responsibilities that are involved with parenting and caring for a child. During an adoption, the biological parents of the child lose all rights and responsibilities that they had to that child. Legally, the parents will no longer have any say in the child’s life.
After a San Antonio adoption, a biological parent has no obligation to provide financial support and they have no visitation rights unless previously agreed upon.
This is why it is important to hire San Antonio adoption attorneys if considering either adoption or a legal guardianship, as this process can be complex and difficult to navigate without the proper advice about adoption proceedings.
What Issues Can I Face During the Adoption Process?
Adopting a child is not always an easy process, and oftentimes there are numerous legal hurdles that must be crossed. Some of the issues you might face during the adoption process are:
Contact with Biological Parents- Prior to completing an adoption, it will likely be necessary to terminate the parental rights of the biological parents of the child. If these individuals do not consent to their parental rights being terminated, they may demand visitation or contact with your adoptive child. You will want someone by your side who can successfully negotiate this difficult situation.
Legal Guardianship vs. Adoption- Legal guardianships and adoptions both involve granting parental rights to another individual however they differ in many important ways including duration, lack of permanency, revocability, and requirements for consent.
Disruption of Adoption- Even after the adoption has been finalized, biological parents may still come forward demanding custody of their child. It will be important to have an attorney by your side who can ensure that the adoption remains intact.
At our law firm, our services are geared towards advocating for your parental rights when it comes to adopting a child. If you want to adopt a child and need help going through the adoption process as prospective adoptive parents, we are here to help by offering a initial consultation for your adoption case.
How Can a San Antonio Adoption Lawyer Help Me?
We value the parent-child relationship of any prospective client. We want to ensure that your parental rights are protected and that you understand the adoption process.
We have experience with facilitating adoptions of children who come from various backgrounds including:
- Special needs children
- Older children
- Children with different ethnicities and races
- Foreign-born children
We can help you through every step of the adoption process. We protect parent’s rights during an adoption proceeding and we want to ensure that your child remains in a stable home environment. This is why we make sure our clients receive compassionate legal guidance from a San Antonio adoption attorney to ensure a smooth adoption process. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help, we offer a initial consultation where we’ll discuss your case and answer any questions about our services that you may have.
Should I Hire a Adoption/Guardianship Attorney in San Antonio?
In any adoption or legal guardianship proceeding, there are many legal obstacles that can be encountered along the way. In order for a court to make decisions about your child, it will need to gather information from you and other interested parties. You will want to have an experienced San Antonio family lawyer by your side who can help gather important documentation and present a strong case in front of a judge.
An adoption is a process that severs all ties between the biological parents and their child. This is why it is incredibly important that proper care be taken when going through this process. There are various issues that could arise during an adoption case but with our help, we can help you overcome any problems that may arise. If you’re interested in finding out how our attorneys specializing in family law can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us so we can answer any questions you might have about an adoption or legal guardianship proceeding.