Stillings & Buchinger, LLC

adoptions

Defining Adoption

An adoption can mean many different things to many people: it can be the only means through which a couple can begin a family, it can be the right answer for an unexpected pregnancy, or it can mean a fruitful life for a child with special needs to a mother unable to provide the financial support. While the word "adoption" is often defined in personal terms, an adoption terminates the parental rights of the birth parents and begins the parental rights of the adoptive parents.

The Adoption Process

The adoption process can be a very emotional period of time for all parties. The birth mother and the adoptive parent or parents are all involved in major life-changing decisions. During those times, it may be comforting to know that Attorney Stillings has mediated many situations, including those that were very stressed. As well, both attorneys practice collaborative law, which requires that couples agree to agree in a situation where agreement is sometimes difficult. Above all, there is a third party whose life will be effected by the adoption decision - the child - who may be too young to participate in the discussions, or who may be older and have strong feelings about adoption. All persons must have the straight-forward answers to the hard adoption questions and be respected; that's what you will find at Stillings & Buchinger, LLC.

Those considerations, along with many others are all part of the adoption process. The attorneys at Stillings & Buchinger understand the emotional side of adoption, regardless of the reasons or the type of adoption sought. They also are expert advisors on adoption law who will ensure that your parental rights are protected, that all of the documentation that needs to be in place is executed, and that all of the t's are crossed and the i's dotted. By working with Stillings & Buchinger, you will have the assurance that every aspect of the adoption was handled property, and all of the birth parents' rights were property revoked.

Termination of Parental Rights

The terminology, "termination of parental rights" is often used to describe the legal process of ending the parental rights of the birth parents. In reality, it is a legally binding action approved by a court having jurisdiction over the matter that will end all of the rights and responsibilities of the natural parents of a child. The termination of parental rights may be obtained by consent of the birth parents, such as by stipulation (agreement), or it may be affected by court order, such as when a court orders that one or both parents' parental rights be terminated.

Experienced Adoption Attorneys

Attorneys Gordon Stillings & Melody Buchinger are always pleased to help a family adopt a child. Throughout their more than thirty combined years of practicing law, both of the family law attorneys at Stillings & Buchinger have helped many couples with adoptions. Often times, those adoptions have involved a stepparent adopting his or her stepchild. The attorneys at Stillings & Buchinger have also handled many other types of adoption, such as those listed below. The bulleted links below include some of the common terms used to describe the many types of adoption. You can click on them for more information.

• Agency Adoptions
• Identified Adoptions
• International Adoptions
• Open -v- Closed (or Confidential) Adoptions
• Relative Adoptions
• Special Needs Adoptions
• Stepparent Adoptions

For a free initial consultation with one of the Attorneys at Stillings & Buchinger, please call the office (920-725-5305) or e-mail the Attorneys to arrange an appointment.