Baytown and Mont Belvieu Adoption Lawyer

Adoption is the judicial process that transfers the rights and responsibilities of parenthood from one person to another. If you are thinking about adoption a child or an adult, the Baytown adoption lawyer at Pinney Law Firm has the knowledge and experience to help you through the process. Whether your adoption involves a family member or a child with no family relations, our lawyer has the compassion and drive to help you through the process.

Our Baytown and Mont Belvieu adoption attorney is dedicated to providing individual attention and cost-effective legal strategies to Baytown families and those in Chambers County. As a adoptive parent himself, Mr. Pinney personally understands both the excitement and the unique challenges you will face.

Adopting a child can be a complicated legal process. If you are married, both you and your spouse must be involved. The parental rights of the biological parents must be terminated before you can adopt. This can be done cooperatively or in an adversarial process. In addition, the adoptive parents must pass a background check and complete a home study. The adoption cannot be granted until the child has lived with you for at least six months.

Sometimes the State will seek termination of the parental rights of a child's biological parents. Freeing a child up for adoption can involve extensive court proceedings. If the child is placed in foster care, sometimes the foster parents can participate in these proceeding to ensure that they are properly considered for the adoptive placement once the parents' rights are terminated. Our foster parent lawyer has the experience to help you have a seat at the table, when appropriate

Step-parent adoptions are also common. There are a few rules in place to make this type of adoption a bit easier. But, the other parent must still have his or her rights terminated. This means that the parent is no longer responsible for providing any child support.

Once you adopt a child, you can change his or her name. The child will be issued a new birth certificate listing the adoptive parents, and sometimes qualifies for a new social security number. The records from the adoption can be sealed or kept open, depending on the preferences of those involved.

Contact an Adoption Lawyer

We accept adoption cases throughout the Baytown, Mont Belvieu, and surrounding areas. We are strong investigators, negotiators and courtroom advocates who have the experience and compassion to fight for your best outcome. If you or a family member needs the help of an adoption attorney, contact our office to schedule a free evaluation of your rights with an experienced Baytown adoption lawyer.