Becoming An Adoptive Parent
Adoption creates the same relationship and benefits between a parent and a child that biological children enjoy for life. In Ohio, adults seeking to adopt a child must demonstrate their willingness and ability to provide a nurturing and safe home for the child. Adoption is an option for:
- Single parents
- Married couples
- Stepparents
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Relatives/kinship
- Foster parents
- Custodians
Deciding to adopt a child is profoundly life-changing for everyone involved in the complex process.
My Firm’s Exclusive Focus Is Adoption
The adoption process is complex. It is one of the most highly regulated areas of the law.
Every prospective adoptive parent must first complete a home study, which is the process to become licensed and approved to adopt. This involves an assessment of your home, financial status, and background checks, just as a start. Adoption also requires the consent of the biological parents, unless there is a statutory exception for the consent.
Finally, the court must determine that the adoption is the best interest of the child. Agencies and courts take great care to examine the child’s social and medical history and needs, to determine which family can best meet those needs. The child must be placed in the home of the prospective adoption family (who has an approved home study) for at least six months before a court is able to issue a final order of adoption. I will work to help you navigate each step of the process.
Contact Ehrenborg Law To Begin
Call my office in Columbus at 614-908-0196 or email me for a free consultation to discuss how you can begin the process of becoming an adoptive parent. I will be at your side every step of the way.