Arizona Adoption Attorney
If you are considering adoption, you might have a lot of questions about the process. It can be overwhelming to try to understand all of the ins and outs as there are unique requirements for each kind of adoption. Working with a skilled adoption lawyer is essential to make sure that your adoption is a success.
At the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC, we have years of experience working on these kinds of cases, and we provide compassionate, caring, and detail-oriented support for your adoption needs. Justin Fernstrom has worked on DCS cases for years. We can offer a wide range of adoption services as well, making it easy to get the support that you need for any kind of adoption that you might be looking to pursue.
What Is an Adoption Attorney?
An adoption attorney is a legal professional who is skilled in all the various kinds of adoptions. The adoption process in Arizona is complex and requires many steps to be taken care of correctly. Without all of the proper steps taken, you might not be able to complete the adoption process successfully. Paperwork errors and other mishaps can set your adoption process back by months, leaving children in limbo. When adoptions are not completed timely, it can be very problematic and should be avoided at all costs.
In 2021, 1,977 children were adopted in the state of Arizona alone. There are many reasons why children need to be adopted and you could join this group of adoptive parents and make a difference in a child’s life.
Working with a skilled adoption attorney can mean the difference between successfully adopting a child and being unable to do so. Each adoption can often present its own unique set of circumstances, which is why it is key that you ensure that your adoption is handled correctly from start to finish.
What Adoption Services Can Justin Fernstrom PLLC Offer You?
At the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC, we offer a wide array of services that are specific to the various kinds of adoption. These different kinds of adoptions can offer a range of benefits, but not all of them might be relevant to your specific needs. You will need to speak with your adoption attorney about the kind of adoption that you are looking to pursue and get more information at the time of your consultation.
Step-Parent Adoption
Step-parents can be eligible to adopt a child in the state of Arizona, and this is one of the most common adoption types in the state of Arizona. It is common for step-parents to want to ensure that they have legal parenting rights for their stepchildren that reside with them.
Grandparent Adoption
Grandparents can also readily meet the requirements to become adoptive parents in the state of Arizona. This is common in cases where both parents might have passed away in an accident or been forced to surrender custody for a variety of reasons.
Dependency Law/DCS Adoption
DCS adoptions happen when the state of Arizona takes custody of the child in order to prevent abuse or ongoing neglect from occurring. This child becomes a ward of the state pending being settled in a foster home or an adoptive situation. If efforts to reunify the child with the parents are unsuccessful and the court has terminated the parental rights, it allows the placement (whether it be a relative or foster placement) to move forward with adoption to provide the child permanency and a way out of “the system.”
Private Adoption
Justin does not typically work with adoption agencies, but he handles private adoptions where friends or family members are connected to a birth mother who has determined that they do not want to raise the child and would rather place their child for adoption with a friend or family member. Justin and his team facilitate this process to ensure that the adoption laws are complied with in order to set you on a path to your forever family.
What Steps Do I Need to Take to Adopt a Child in Phoenix?
The steps that are necessary to adopt a child in Arizona vary depending on the kind of adoption that you are pursuing. The foster-to-adopt process is different than if you adopt without fostering. DCS adoptions are most certainly different than private adoptions where the state is not involved.
Each type of adoption will have some slightly different steps and different paperwork that needs to be filed. Becoming certified to adopt is required for some and not for others. Children are generally under 18 at the time of adoption, but it is sometimes possible to do an adoption between the ages of 18 and 21. DCS/CPS adoptions are streamlined more so than the other types of adoption, but give us a call today so that we can consult with you on your particular set of circumstances and help get you the outcome you desire.
Get the Help of a Compassionate and Experienced Arizona Adoption Attorney
Working with a skilled adoption attorney is key when you are seeking to adopt a child. This process can be complicated and includes many steps that must be taken care of correctly for the adoption to be a success. Without all of the necessary documentation being complete and the necessary certifications and consent being granted, you cannot adopt a child.
The team at the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC can ensure that nothing is missed during your adoption process. You will be able to trust that your lawyer is working hard on your case and making sure that all of the important details are being handled properly. We have years of experience in this kind of law, and we take the adoption process very seriously.
If you are ready to take the next step and begin the adoption process, you need to reach out to us at the Law Office of Justin Fernstrom PLLC today. We can help you to navigate the complexities of the adoption process from start to finish.
