Winchester Adoption Attorney

Advocates Helping Your Family Grow in Virginia

An adoption is a life-altering event that is not without its complexities. That’s why you need a legal team who will work tirelessly on your behalf. Buchbauer & McGuire, P.C. represent adoptive parents, helping them grow their families.

When you’re ready to move forward with your adoption, know that our team will be beside you at every step of the process.

For the trusted legal advice you need from our Winchester, Virginia adoption lawyers, call (540) 508-8995 today to schedule a consultation.

Understanding Adoption & Your Parental Rights

It’s important to note that there are several forms of adoption and each type has its own legal process and requirements.

Adoption procedures we handle include:

• Parental Placement Adoptions: In a parental placement adoption, the adoptive parents typically enter into an Entrustment Agreement with the birth parents, authorizing the adoptive parents to care for the child. The next stage of the parental placement adoption occurs in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, where the Court accepts the birth parents’ consent to the adoption. The adoptive parents then proceed to obtain a Final Order of Adoption in the Circuit Court.
• Step-Parent Adoption Process: In a step-parent adoption, the new spouse can adopt the child of the other spouse with the consent of the natural parent or, under certain circumstances, over the objection of the natural parent.
• Foster Care to Family: Some families grow through adopting a child through the Department of Social Services. This often happens when a family has been fostering a child who becomes available for adoption. In these adoptions, the Department of Social Services petitions the Court to terminate the birth parents' rights and, if the Court does so, the adoption may proceed.
• Domestic Infant Adoption: This refers to an adoption where the child, adoptive parents, and birth parents are all in the United States. As such, the entire process is handled at the state level, with local laws and procedures followed.
• International Adoption Guidance: While international adoptions vary by country, the adoption often is finalized in the child’s country of origin. While re-adopting in Virginia isn't required in such a case, many adoptive parents choose to do so to obtain a birth certificate for their child in English.

Regardless of the adoption scenario that fits your family’s situation, our Winchester, Virginia adoption lawyers will help you understand the process, go over the paperwork with you, and help get your adoption through the Virginia courts.

Public vs. Private Adoption

With a public adoption, the Department of Social Services has sole custody of the child or children. In these cases, birth parents do not have the legal authority to determine where their children are placed. However, with a private adoption, the biological parent(s) directly place their offspring with a family of their choosing.

Either scenario requires a delicate approach to ensure the best possible outcome for all involved. We understand the steps and have helped many families find their happy ending.

Open vs. Closed Adoption

Amid all the happiness at moving forward with the adoption process, we understand that stressful scenarios may play out in the back of your mind concerning an open or closed adoption.

With open adoptions, the birth parents’ information is available to the child. A closed adoption sees such information is withheld, with the expectation that the birth child and adoptive parents will never contact the birth parent again.

Contact Our Adoption Attorney in Winchester Today

For more than 25 years, Buchbauer & McGuire, P.C has stood up for families seeking to bring children into their loving homes. We are well aware of every relevant Virginia statute, and are not daunted by international pursuits.

Our team will pursue every angle to find a legal solution for your unique case. Let your joyous adoption journey begin and end with us.

Have questions? Call our experienced adoption attorneys at (540) 508-8995 or reach out to us online.