Adoption Lawyers in Suffolk County, NY

Experienced and Compassionate Legal Help in NY 

Adopting the child of your dreams and adding them to your family is the most amazing feeling in the world. But getting to that point is painfully difficult, and many couples give up before they’ve even started. They believe that adoption just isn’t a viable option for them. 

But, there are two answers – ‘yes, you can adopt’ and ‘yes, with our help, you can.’

Donato Law can help make your dreams come true. We’re here to help people who want to adopt a child, whether they already have children or not. If that sounds like you, contact Donato Law today!

We offer free consultations at our offices near the East Islip and Suffolk County area to discuss your adoption process.

Why Do I Need an Adoption Lawyer in NY?

Many people think that lawyers are only needed when in trouble or charged with a crime.is not true. A lawyer can help you in many ways, including helping you to adopt a child. You may wonder why hiring a lawyer for an adoption case is necessary, but many reasons are.

Five Reasons to Hire an Adoption Lawyer:

Skilled and experienced Advocate

Adoption is a complicated process used legally to add to your family, but it can be hard to understand. It’s a great day for everyone and their new children, but it’s also a legal event that can be hard to understand. The whole process comprises words and procedures that many people find intimidating or strange. Having a knowledgeable person who can help you make smart decisions is very important.

Process & Procedural Support

The adoption process is a state job, and it’s mostly made up of paperwork and processes. An adoption lawyer can ensure that your forms are filled out correctly and sent to the right place on time. As your lawyer, he or she will help you avoid pitfalls and make sure you don’t make mistakes.

Legal Representative

One of the most critical duties that your adoption attorney will fulfill as an attorney is legal representation. They will be there for you when you go to court and ensure that your case is shown to the judge. They can also help you think about what to expect when you show up at events.

Expedited Procedure

If you hire an adoption lawyer, they are experts who have been trained and worked with other families to get adoptions done quickly. It can be hard to predict what will happen during an adoption, but knowing who to talk to and what to do can speed things up. An attorney can help you keep your case on track and ensure that your case doesn’t get thrown off because of missing or unknown rules.

Make Adoptions More Efficient

Every State has different laws. If your adoption has problems or unusual circumstances that make it more complicated, having an attorney who knows about your case and has a legal strategy can benefit your case.

With Donato Law, our commitment is to work tirelessly securing that the adoption process for you would be less of a struggle and more of a happy and memorable journey. Talk to us today, and let’s discuss your case. 

Different Types of Adoptions

When considering adoption, prospective parents have a variety of possibilities. Each one has its own set of criteria and procedures. It is strongly advised that you consult with a family law attorney before taking any urgent action:

Adoption by stepparents

When a stepparent adopts a kid, it is referred to as a stepparent adoption. To formalize such an arrangement, the biological parents must offer approval or be unable to do so due to significant circumstances. Stepparent adoptions may be quite emotional and need sound guidance to be successful.

Private Placement Adoption

In a private placement adoption, the adoptive parents engage in a private contract with the birth mother or birth parents. While private placement extends outside the usual bounds of an adoption agency, it is nonetheless controlled by New York State law.

Certain private placements occur when a parent is experiencing difficulties and decides to leave the kid with a family member or close friend. The caregiver may want to adopt the child legally to keep him or her out of foster care. This provides familiarity for the child and allows the biological parents to visit. The parents usually gladly surrender the child to the relative, but in rare situations, the individual wishing to adopt must get agreement from the original parents.

You must always serve the parents with a notice of proceedings, informing them that their child has been placed for adoption. The following are some methods for determining if you will need to get consent before continuing with the adoption.

No consent 1. If the mother abandons the child for at least six months and makes no effort to care for the child.

2. If the mother suffers from a mental disorder and cannot make informed judgments for herself.

Consent 1. If the father was married to the mother at the child’s birth,: If the biological father has shown that he wants to be a father.

2. If the father has contacted the child or gives financial support monthly.
3. If the father is forbidden the opportunity to visit the kid.

If the biological father has been absent from the child’s life, but his name appears on the birth certificate, he has been named the father by the court, or he is sharing a home with the mother at the time of the proceedings, he must be served with a notice of the proceedings, but his consent is not required. 

The courts provide a paper that parents must sign and have notarized. They have around 45 days to revoke permission and end the adoption process. Bear in mind that the courts will always act in the child’s best interest.

Re – Adoption

In the case of a re-adoption, the petitioning parent(s) have previously successfully adopted a child outside of New York and are asking the State to issue the adoption papers. Frequently, the adoption takes place abroad, and the adoption documents are in a foreign language.

In New York, who can adopt?

Most people can adopt in New York. To be able to adopt, you need to be LGBTQ+, whether you are single and unmarried, young and old, childless and a parent, or a renter and a homeowner.

An adoptive parent must be at least 18 years old. They can also be

• an unmarried person
• a married couple
• two unmarried romantic couples,
• someone married but legally separated from his or her spouse
• A married individual who has lived away from his or her spouse for at least three years before filing the adoption case.

Citizen requirements: Are there any?

There is no law or regulation in New York State that says that a non-citizen or undocumented resident can’t be licensed as a family that wants to adopt a child. A person’s immigration status or citizenship status doesn’t have to be checked by an agency under New York state law. 

If a child is going to be placed in a home, the caseworker has to look at the home’s stability and ability to meet the child’s needs. The agency has to figure out how likely it is that the parent application will be able to keep the home security for the child. Thus, immigration or citizenship status may be considered in relation to a child’s stability.

Who Can’t Adopt a Child Under the Law?

A felony conviction does not prevent an applicant from adopting. Because every effort is taken to put children in secure surroundings, you may be unable to adopt a child or become a foster parent if you have been convicted of a crime. 

If you or another adult living in your household has been accused or convicted of a felony, a court or foster care agency may refuse your request to adopt or foster. According to the law, if you have been convicted of certain offenses, you are not eligible to adopt or foster a kid.

You are not eligible to adopt or foster if you have been convicted of the following felonies:

• Child abuse or neglect.
• Spouse abuse.
• A crime committed against a juvenile may include child pornography.
• Rape, sexual assault, or even attempted criminal possession of a weapon 
• There has been a felony for drugs or violence in the last five years.

What to Expect from the Donato Law Offices

As soon as you decide to work with our firm, we will go over all the details of your adoption and make sure that all the correct paperwork, legal documents, and inspections are done quickly. This is what we’ve done for both personal and private adoptions. We can help you with both in-state and out-of-state adoptions, as well.

Among our clients are people and families from all walks of life, like

• Those who want to adopt after a divorce
• Stepparents who want to adopt
• Birth moms interested in placing their kids for adoption
• Partners of the same sex
• Married couples
• One-child adoptees
• People who want to follow local laws about adopting children from other countries.
• Adoptions by grandparents

Our adoption attorneys recognize that your circumstances are unique, but we strive to provide you with our full attention and assistance throughout the process.

Talk to Our East Islip New York Attorney Today!

We will do everything possible to help you complete your adoption. We understand that adopting a child is one of the most meaningful things you will ever do, and we are committed to helping you through every step of the process.

We know the law. Donato Law has a wealth of experience handling complex legal matters, including adoptions. We know what is required to finalize an adoption successfully and will help you avoid common pitfalls.

If you’ve got legal concerns in family law, estate planning, real estate law,  probate administration, business formation, or dealing with a traffic violation and personal injury concerns, get in touch with our East Islip New York attorney to get compassionate and personalized representation from Jodi Ann Donato.

We have helped many families like yours finalize their adoptions successfully, and we look forward to helping you! Get in touch with us today to see how we can help your family. We’re waiting to hear from you!