Adoptions

Atlanta-Marietta Attorneys Practicing in Family Law

Adopting a child is a joyous event. It is also a legal process that can have frustrating delays and obstacles. The family law attorneys at Stearns-Montgomery & Associates are dedicated to representing and guiding you through the adoption process in a streamlined and cost-effective manner. We handle:

• Stepparent adoptions
• Grandparent adoptions
• Relative adoptions
• State and private agency adoptions
• Interstate adoption
• Contested adoption
• Termination of parental rights (TPR)
• Involuntary termination of parental rights (TPR)
• Name changes

Many of the adoptions our lawyers handle are by stepparents or relatives who wish to adopt a child already living with them. In these cases, the biological parent is either absent from the child's life or is not responsible enough to care for the child. In addition to giving the child the security of a permanent parent-child relationship, adoption gives the adoptive parent all of the legal rights a biological parent has.

As part of the adoption process, the rights of the biological parent or parents must be terminated. A full and complete termination is essential to ensure that the biological parent does not try to undo the adoption later. If the biological parent does not wish to voluntarily terminate his or her rights, there are a number of grounds that Georgia courts will consider when deciding whether those rights should be terminated involuntarily.

Speak with a caring adoption attorney: Call Stearns-Montgomery & Associates today at (770) 426-1148 or fill out our simple contact form. We have law offices in Atlanta and Marietta.