Skilled, Experienced And Knowledgeable Legal Assistance For All Your Adoption Needs
Last updated on October 4, 2022
Do you have questions about the time it will take to complete an international or domestic adoption? Are you looking to adopt your spouse’s child or your grandchild? The Law Office of Steven C. Girsky will answer all of your adoption questions and guide you through the potential challenges.
Adoption is a major life change, and the legal process can be difficult. When you want to expand your family, contact The Law Office of Steven C. Girsky. Our Clarksville firm offers compassionate legal guidance while addressing all of your concerns effectively and efficiently.
Tailoring The Adoption Process To Your Family’s Circumstances
Every family has different needs when it comes to adoption. Some families want to move the process along quickly while others want to make sure all loose ends are tied up.
Attorney Steven C. Girsky will take the time to discuss your family’s unique needs and will explain the statutory process to obtain an adoption. To help you understand the timeline to accomplish an adoption, he will inform you on the realistic length of time it will take to adopt a child. Some adoptions are quickly accomplished, while others may take months or years. The timeline depends on your family’s individual circumstances.
Uncontested adoptions, in which the child’s parents have consented to the adoption or their parental rights have been terminated, typically progress more quickly than contested adoptions. While it is usually in the child’s best interests to avoid a courtroom battle, attorney Girsky will represent your interests in court if litigating the contested issues becomes necessary.
Securing Your Family With Stepparent Adoption
Many stepparents already love their stepchildren as their own, even if the law does not recognize the bond. Making the relationship “official” through adoption provides numerous benefits, including parental rights for the adoptive stepparent, greater financial security for the child and a stronger bond between parent and child. If you are thinking of adopting your stepchild, you can rely on attorney Steven C. Girsky’s more than 25 years of experience helping families throughout Tennessee and Kentucky.
A Procedural Overview Of Stepparent Adoption In Tennessee
You must follow several steps to adopt a stepchild in Tennessee. The process is similar in Kentucky, with a few legal differences. The main steps include:
- Obtaining permission from both biological parents – As with all adoptions, you must first have permission from the biological parents or termination of the noncustodial parent’s parental rights. In some cases, you may not need permission from the noncustodial parent if that parent has abandoned the child under the law. If the biological parent contests the adoption, you will have to argue your case in court.
- Completing parenting classes – In Tennessee, you must complete a 30-hour parenting class before the court will approve your adoption. A social worker will also conduct a home study, as well as review medical and financial information.
- Attending your court hearing – The court will schedule a hearing to review the information and make sure you have completed the necessary steps. In both Tennessee and Kentucky, the court will require the consent of a child over the age of 14.
The law provides relatives, such as grandparents, 10 days after the hearing to contest the adoption. The court will rule after the 10 days have passed. The cost to file for stepparent adoption will depend on several factors, including whether the biological parent contests the adoption. If you have questions about stepparent adoption, give our office a call at 931-266-4689 to speak to an experienced attorney.
Legal Guidance For Adopting Or Gaining Custody/Visitation Of A Grandchild
In recent years, there has been a push to respect grandparents’ rights to visitation with or custody of their grandchildren in a divorce or family-related dispute. However, securing custody or grandparent adoption can still be complicated and is often decided on a case-by-case basis.
Unfortunately, Tennessee laws and laws in other states do not have explicit rules regarding grandparent adoption or grandparents’ rights. There are, however, certain circumstances in which a court may give custody to grandparents. These include:
- If you have an established relationship with your grandchild such that he or she has lived in your home for a set amount of time
- If your son or daughter has known alcohol or drug abuse problems so that your grandchild or grandchildren are not safe living with him or her
- If you are named as your grandchild’s guardian should anything happen to your son or daughter
Clarksville grandparent adoption lawyer Steven C. Girsky is committed to helping you explore your options to either adopt your grandchild or at least secure visitation rights if the parents divorce or separate. He will provide honest advice and dedicated representation throughout the legal process.
A Law Firm Helping Parents Adopt A Child Internationally
Many regulations at the state, national and international levels govern international adoptions. If you are looking to expand your family through international adoption, the assistance of an experienced adoption lawyer is essential to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Most international adoptions are accomplished through the use of approved international adoption agencies, which must be licensed through the U.S. Department of State. Either the agency or the parents, or both, complete the adoption in the child’s home country first. Parents must obtain a special immigration visa for their child to bring him or her back to the United States. To finalize the adoption, parents then “readopt” the child according to their own state adoption laws.
As an experienced international adoption attorney, Steven Girsky will explain the entire statutory process to you in detail, both before the international adoption takes place and following your child’s return to the U.S. He can then help you with all the documentation necessary to complete the readoption process in your own state.
Attorney Girsky knows that each adoption case is unique. Some adoptions happen quickly, while others take more time to ensure that all loose ends are tied up. He will help you understand the timeline involved so you have a realistic expectation about how long it will take to finalize your child’s American-based adoption.
Take The Next Step In The Adoption Process
Open during weekly business hours, The Law Office of Steven C. Girsky also offers off-site, evening and weekend appointments to clients in Tennessee and Kentucky. Payment plans are available and credit cards are accepted for all cases. Contact the firm online or call 931-266-4689 today for a free initial consultation about your adoption-related legal needs.