ADOPTIONS ATTORNEY IN NEWTON, KANSAS

Many individuals and couples who wish to adopt a child do not understand the adoption process. The process is guided by various regulations and complex legal procedures from start to finish. In each state, there are quite a few adoption requirements that prospective adoptive parents must meet, not to mention that the process involves a large amount of paperwork and other formalities.

Handling the adoption process on your own may be too overwhelming and daunting. For this reason, if you are considering adoption, you need to contact a skilled family law attorney to handle the legal aspects of the adoption process.

As a knowledgeable adoption attorney here at CornerStone Law, LLC, in Newton, Kansas, I can help you navigate the process of adopting a child and handle the legal aspects of the process for you to complete a successful adoption. I also provide legal help to prospective adoptive parents in the areas of McPherson, Wichita, El Dorado, Hutchinson, Hillsboro, Harvey, Saline, Marion, Butler, Sedgwick, Reno, McPherson, and Cowley, Kansas.

TYPES OF ADOPTION

There are different types of adoption to choose from:

• Private — Private adoption is also known as “independent” adoption. In this type of adoption, individuals or couples can adopt a child from birth parents without the use of an agency. The process involves a direct placement between the prospective adoptive parent(s) and the birth parent(s).  

• Domestic — If you want to adopt an infant or child in Kansas or elsewhere in the United States, you can do so as long as you meet the adoption requirements in the respective state.

• International — American individuals and couples also have an option of adopting children from outside the United States. This type of adoption is known as “international.”

• Stepparent — This type of adoption is generally less complicated and more straightforward compared to others. A stepparent adoption occurs when the spouse of a biological parent adopts their child from a previous spouse or partner.

• Adult — Although adult adoptions are less common than other types of adoptions, they may be appropriate in some cases. Typically, prospective adoptive parents must be 10 or more years older than the adult being adopted.

• Surrogacy — Surrogacy is an arrangement between a woman and another person or couple in which the woman agrees to bear a child for that person or couple. After the woman gives birth, the designated parents will become the legal parents of that child.

KANSAS ADOPTION LAWS 

Adoption laws differ from one state to another. Adoption requirements also vary depending on the type of adoption you are pursuing. Under Kansas adoption laws, a prospective adoptive parent must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a domestic adoption:

• While there is no minimum age requirement to adopt in Kansas, the prospective adoptive parents must be at least ten years older than the adopted child

• They can adopt individually as a single adult

• They can adopt jointly as a married couple (however, a person cannot file a petition for adoption without the consent of their spouse)

• The age of consent for adoption in Kansas is 14 (meaning you must first obtain the child’s consent if they are aged 14 or older)