Adoption
There’s nothing better than the joy of welcoming a new family member into your home. If you’re considering adoption—whether it’s a stepchild, grandchild, or a new little one—we’re happy to help.
If you’re looking to adopt, you should know that in North Carolina adoptions can be initiated by stepparents, foster parents, or even grandparents. Since the legalization of same-sex marriage, same-sex spouses can adopt children as well.
Adoptions aren’t just for children either. It’s also possible to adopt another adult individual. However, you cannot adopt your spouse in North Carolina.
To initiate an adoption proceeding, you have to meet a few jurisdictional requirements. First, the adoptee must have lived in North Carolina for at least six consecutive months prior to filing the petition. Second, the adoptive parent must have lived in North Carolina for at least six consecutive months prior to the filing of the petition as well. However, the court won’t exercise jurisdiction if another court of any other state has entered a custody order. If this applies to your situation, you may want to speak with an attorney about how to transfer jurisdiction to North Carolina so that you can move forward with your adoption petition here.
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Sometimes in the adoption process, it’s necessary to file a petition to terminate the parental rights (TPR) of one or both of the child’s biological parents. Our certified child welfare law specialists have extensive experience in this arena—both defending biological parents and representing petitioners against them. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about TPRs.
While adoptions are extremely rewarding, the legal process can be complex and take a long time. It’s important to have an attorney on your side to help guide you through the process and make the experience as painless as possible. We have extensive experience representing clients in all types of adoption proceedings.
- Stepparent adoptions
- Grandparent adoptions
- Adult adoptions
- Father’s rights in contested adoptions
- Termination of parental rights
- Legal name change
Let us help you make your dreams of a family a reality. Contact our Raleigh Adoption Lawyers today to discuss your legal rights and create a plan for your family’s future.
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