Adoption is the legal and emotional acceptance into your family of a child not born to you. The child will have your name and the same legal rights as a child by birth.

After the adoption is approved by the court, you will receive an official decree and a birth certificate with your name listed as the parent.

It is your responsibility to feed, clothe, house, and educate your adopted child. The adopted child should receive the same love and understanding as a child born to you.

The adoption law practice of the Law Offices of Jack I. Hyatt ranges from representing clients in uncontested adoptions, where the natural parent consents to the termination of his or her parental rights, to contested adoptions in which such consent is withheld. Should the biological parent wish to remain a child's parent after being served with the adoption petition, a case for termination of parental rights must be made. There are several grounds for terminating a parent's rights including abandonment, failure to support the child, and failure to communicate with the child. In the event that you must pursue a contested adoption, Jack I. Hyatt will provide the aggressive and thorough representation needed.

If you are seeking to adopt a child, if you are a step-parent or domestic partner who would like to adopt the child or children of your spouse or significant other, you need competent and caring legal help. We stand ready to help.

A private adoption can seem overwhelming, with a myriad of forms and attachments required with the initial filing. And, if the natural parent does not consent to the adoption, a hearing may be required to determine if the adoption can proceed anyway, even without that person's consent. From the initial filing to the homestudy performed by a social worker, to that happy day when the Family Court judge provides you with a Certificate of Adoption, attorney Jack I Hyatt will effectively guide you through the private adoption process. If you have any questions call Jack I. Hyatt 410-486-1800

Different Types of Adoption

The experience of adopting--its cost, time frame, frustrations, risks, and the child who is ultimately adopted--varies greatly depending on the type of adoption chosen. The decision to adopt through a public agency, a private agency, or a lawyer is one that parents make early in the process, but the implications of this decision can be lasting.

Public adoption

Public adoptions are run through county child-protection agencies. There is no shortage of children available for adoption through these offices. They pay for all legal and other costs and in some cases offer stipends to help with medical or other expenses for the children. Questions can be answered by calling Jack I. Hyatt 410-486-1800.

However, the children available through public agencies are less attractive to many adoptive parents for several reasons. The children typically have been put in foster care because of neglect or abuse, and they only come up for adoption after the child protection agency has determined that the biological parents are beyond recovery as parents. That process can take a long time, which means that typically the children have been in the foster-care system for years. Few are infants. Many have emotional problems related to their history of abuse or neglect, or to their years in foster homes. And they are relatively unlikely to be white. Questions can be answered by calling Jack I. Hyatt 410-486-1800.

For many adoptive parents, however, these characteristics are not a problem. Many children who are adopted out of the foster-care system are very glad to have permanent families. Most learn to love their adoptive parents, and they often overcome their emotional and learning problems with the help of committed and caring parents.

Prospective parents can find out more about public adoptions in their regions by contacting their local county child-protection agency.

Private agencies

Private agencies provide a range of services, including counseling for prospective parents, home studies, placements, and post-placement monitoring. Many are also involved in supporting pregnant women who have decided to place their infants up for adoption. Reputable agencies are licensed and follow strict ethical standards. Questions can be answered by calling Jack I. Hyatt 410-486-1800.

Private parties can usually offer a wider variety of children to be adopted. For families who are committed to the idea of adopting an infant, a private agency is much more likely to meet their needs than a public one. The costs vary but usually run between several thousand dollars and tens of thousands of dollars.

Independent adoption

Here, prospective parents work directly with a pregnant woman or through a mediator who is often a lawyer. Independent adoptions are not legal in all states, however, so it's very important that parents who choose this option work with a reputable lawyer who is an expert in their state's adoption laws. Otherwise, if it is later found that the law has not been followed, the adoption can be challenged and perhaps nullified, even years later. Questions can be answered by calling Jack I. Hyatt 410-486-1800.

In some cases independent adoption shortens the waiting time, particularly if parents have a specific set of baby characteristics in mind that are harder to find. The cost, however, can be very high. In addition to lawyer's fees, prospective parents will still need to pay to have a home study done by a licensed agency, as well as court costs. Often the adoptive parents agree to also pay costs related to the child's birth, which can be great if there are complications. All told, the cost of an independent adoption frequently runs in the tens of thousands of dollars.

International adoption The number of children adopted internationally has grown steadily over the past 15 years. The main advantage for many parents is the ability to adopt an infant, although older children also are adopted from overseas.