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There are few greater joys or more important responsibilities than welcoming a new member into your family. However, the adoption process in Indiana is not always as straightforward as we might wish it to be, and even seemingly small mistakes can lead to costly delays. Don’t let what should be a time of celebration become one of frustration instead. The Indiana adoption attorneys with Myers & Wallace, LLP, can handle the challenging legal work on your behalf, giving you more time and energy to focus on growing your household. Contact us today for a confidential initial consultation, and let’s discuss your case together.
While there are many adoption lawyers to choose from in Northeast Indiana, the outcome of your adoption case is too important to trust to just anyone. Here’s why clients throughout the state turn to Myers & Wallace, LLP for help with their most important legal matters:
Our Experience – Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined professional experience to leverage on your behalf. We know the challenges to anticipate and how we can overcome them.
Our Dedication – We are committed to pursuing the best outcomes on behalf of our clients. We know how important your adoption is to you, and we will do everything in our power to resolve it efficiently.
Our Compassion – You’re more than just a case to us. You’re a real person with a real need, and we will honor the trust you’ve placed in our hands.
At Myers & Wallace, LLP, we can help you with all three of the primary types of adoption in Indiana:
Uncontested adoption – Adoptions are uncontested when everyone involved agrees on the details. We can streamline an uncontested adoption by completing and submitting your paperwork to the correct parties and efficiently guiding you through the legal details of each step of the process.
Contested adoption – An adoption becomes contested when a biological parent whose consent is required under the terms of IC 31-19-9-8 refuses to give consent or rescinds their previously given consent. Our contested adoption attorneys are prepared to persuasively advocate for your rights and seek an effective solution to the parents’ objections.
Adult adoption – The adoption process is somewhat different when the person being adopted is over the age of 18. Adult adoptions can formalize a parent–child relationship, secure inheritance rights, and streamline care for individuals with special needs.
Regardless of the specific form of Indiana adoption you wish to pursue, you deserve the help and guidance of an experienced Indiana adoption attorney. Let the team at Myers & Wallace, LLP, support you during this potentially overwhelming time.
The State of Indiana wants to be sure that every child in the state has the financial, emotional, and physical resources they need in order to thrive. Consequently, the process of adopting a child under the age of 18 is a complex one with several critical steps. Generally, this process involves:
Demonstrating financial ability to care for the child
Establishing a safe home environment for the child
Passing background checks and home visits
Securing consent to the adoption, when necessary
Here’s what you can expect at each step.
Filing a Petition for Adoption
To begin the process, you will need to file a petition for adoption with the clerk of the probate court:
In the county where you reside
In the county where the child resides
Where the licensed child placing agency (LCPA) or Department of Child Services (DCS) charged with the child’s care and supervision is located
The petition must be filed in triplicate, unless the adoption is going through an LCPA, in which case it must be filled out in which case it must be filed in quadruplicate.
Providing Notice of Adoption
Next, you must give notice of adoption to any of the following parties as relevant:
Anyone who the law establishes must give consent to the adoption
The putative father of the child
A grandparent of the child
The LCPA responsible for the care and supervision of the child
The local DCS
Any other entity of which the child is a ward
Undergoing the Family Preparation Assessment & Criminal Background Check
All prospective adoptive parents must undergo a criminal background check as well as a home assessment to ensure that they are financially and emotionally prepared to provide for a child’s physical and psychological development. This home study must be conducted within 60 days of the date of the reference of a petition for adoption. Either the DCS in your county or the LCPA contracting with the county will determine if you meet approval and, if so, provide written confirmation of this.
Final adoption may only be granted after a supervisory period overseen by DCS or LCPA. While the length of the supervisory period is at the court’s discretion, the standard waiting time is six months.
Receiving Required Consents
Next, you will need to acquire the written consent of the following parties:
The child’s biological mother, if she is alive
The child’s biological father, provided he is alive and has either established paternity or a paternity affidavit
The DCS office charged with the child’s care and supervision, unless the court decides that DCS consent is not in the child’s best interests
The child, if they are older than 14
Consent can be executed at any time after the child’s birth and must be done either in the presence of the court, a notary public, or an authorized DCS or LCPA agent.
There are also circumstances under which you may not need to receive these consents, such as when the child has been abandoned for at least six months prior to filing the petition.
Finalizing the Adoption
Finally, the court can approve the adoption and enter a decree of such once it has established that:
The adoption is in the best interests of the child
The prospective adoptive parents have shown they are capable of the child’s support and education
The home inspection has been completed and background checks have been passed
Notice has been given to any necessary parties
Consent has been granted by any necessary parties
The court clerk will then finalize the adoption, which may involve updating the child’s certificate of birth and filing the original registration with the adoption evidence.
Adoption can be complex, but you do not have to go through it alone. At Myers & Wallace, LLP, we’re prepared to support and guide you throughout your adoption journey, providing you with the peace of mind you deserve throughout this challenging but ultimately rewarding process. We can:
Draft and review the necessary paperwork
Prepare you for your home visit and background check
Negotiate any terms of adoption, as necessary
Manage any disputes that may arise
Keep you informed and confident throughout the process
You have enough to deal with as it is. Let us manage the legal aspects of your adoption so you can focus on what really matters: welcoming a new member into your family.
Are you interested in adopting a child in Fort Wayne? If so, Myers & Wallace, LLP, wants to hear from you. We believe that every child in Indiana deserves a loving, caring home, which is why we are eager to help you welcome a new household member into yours. Contact us today to speak with a caring, experienced Indiana adoption attorney, and let’s get to know each other during a no-obligation initial consultation.
Myers & Wallace, LLP helps with a wide variety of legal needs throughout Indiana. If you need assistance for a case relating to employment law, civil rights, criminal defense or personal injury call us at 260-424-0600 so we can get started on developing your personalized strategy.
