Consult an Adoption Attorney in Washington State 

Adoption has brought hundreds of children to hundreds of loving parents across the state of Washington. If you’ve decided you wish to expand your family, you may wonder what to expect during the process.

 

What to Expect

To adopt a child under the Washington State adoption laws, the parental rights of one (or both) of a child’s biological parents must have been terminated. Parental rights can be involuntarily terminated through the courts or parents can choose to voluntarily give up their rights.

Regardless of how parental rights are terminated, it is in you and your child’s best interests to work with an experienced adoption lawyer in Washington State.

 

Do You Need a Lawyer to Adopt a Child?

As you go through the journey of adopting a child, you need to follow the process from the very start to the very end. You don’t want to make any mistakes or take any shortcuts.

It is not uncommon for adoption cases to be complicated, and they often require a generous amount of legal advice to protect your rights and secure the child’s future.

As an experienced adoption attorney, our goal at LaCoste Family Law is to inform you of your options and to help you welcome your new child as smoothly as possible.

 

Adoption by a Stepparent

The most common type of adoption in Washington State is stepparent adoption. This is the process that involves an individual getting into a relationship with someone who already has a child with someone else.

If you marry someone who has a child from a previous relationship and the parental rights of the other parent are terminated, you can adopt the child.

A stepparent adoption must meet the following requirements:

  • All parties involved must agree on the adoption
  • A social worker has to approve the adopted parent
  • The court has to approve the adoption

 

What Happens When a Parent Doesn’t Willingly Terminate Their Rights?

Unfortunately, stepparent adoptions are not always a straightforward process. If the other parent does not wish to terminate their parental rights, you will not be able to adopt the child without significant and complex litigation.

At LaCoste Family Law, we can help you evaluate your options in that situation and determine if forcing the other biological parent to terminate their parental rights is a viable option.

Bringing a new child into your family should be an exciting and joyous time. Let us be your voice during the court process, so you can focus on celebrating the expansion of your family. Please contact us or send us an email at info@lacostefamilylaw.com to enlist the help of our adoption attorney in Washington State.