Adopting My Foster Child.
Hiring a Kansas adoption attorney to handle your D.C.F. adoption is a significant step in the adoption process. You'll need to consult with an adoption attorney sooner rather than later. It is even more critical that you don't take the advice of your well-intentioned Family Case Manager, Family Support Worker, or CASA regarding when it is appropriate to speak to an adoption attorney. They tend not to give sound legal advice on this topic.
Post-Adoption Contact Agreements
The Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act does not allow for post-adoption contact agreements (PACA) between adoptive parents and biological parents or even between siblings that are being adopted. The reasoning behind this is that it gives the appearance that the consent signed by the expectant mother or birth mother was not done as her free and voluntary act. In other words, the signed consent was accomplished by a future promise of contact with the child.
Age Requirement to Adopt in Kansas
Kansas adoption statutes do not have an age restriction. The law states, § 59-2113, "Any adult, or married adult couple jointly, may adopt any minor or adult as their child… except that one spouse cannot do so without the consent of the other." However, women thinking about giving their babies up for adoption or making an adoption plan for their baby will not select an individual or couple to adopt if the birth mother or expectant mother is not confident in the individual's or couple's ability to provide their babies with a stable, loving home, and bright future.
The Pre-Adoption Home Study
Yes, Kansas Adoption law requires an adoption home study. The home study must be filed with the court before the finalization hearing, along with any other clarifying documentation, post-placement reports, or other information requested by the court.
FAQ - Birth moms
In the years I have been doing adoptions, I have had the opportunity to meet many birth mothers. While no two were the same, there were some similarities. What they were not where the preconceived notions are of what a woman who places a baby for adoption would be. What they all were, where women who found themselves in a difficult situation with limited options. That is a position many of us have been in at one time or another.
Adoption Agency vs. Adoption Attorney
An adoption law attorney is required in every adoption — regardless of whether or not another professional is used. But having the support of both an adoption attorney and an adoption agency together will almost always guarantee a successful adoption. You will have the legal expertise of an adoption attorney along with the support, education, and guidance of an adoption counselor. If you choose to work with an adoption agency, call me. I have worked with many agencies across the country.
Adopting Your StepChild
To best understand the process of adopting your stepchild, so you don’t make a critical mistake, you need to consult an adoption attorney who can help you navigate this sometimes contentious adoption area. I have finalized many stepparent adoptions and am happy to help you with yours.
Is It Possible to Adopt an Adult?
Suppose you are a stepparent or other adult who has been a parental figure in the life of another for years but was not able to adopt them before they turned 18. In that case, you’ll be happy to know that the process for adult adoption is far more straightforward. Adopting an adult can formalize your position as their parent and highlight your commitment to being there for them into the future. An experienced adoption attorney can help you make this desire a reality.
The Adoption Process in Kansas
Adoption creates a permanent family between adoptive parents and a child. There is helpful information available about the process for those considering building their family through adoption in Kansas.
Adopting in Kansas
If you are planning or considering adoption as a way of starting or building a family, here are some things you’ll want to factor into your decision, especially if you’ve never had a child before.
