Adoption

Step-Parent Adoption of a Minor Child

Ms. Jansen represents step-parents who wish to adopt their step-child. Usually the adopting step-parent is married to the child’s custodial parent. The Court prefers a petitioning step-parent to have lived in the child’s home, assuming a parental role, for at least a year prior to filing the petition. In most cases, the non-custodial biological parent must be notified and given the opportunity to consent or object. A private social worker must also be hired to conduct a home study and submit a report to the Court. Ms. Jansen counsels clients prior to filing an adoption petition, assessing the degree of complexity of their case. A Step-Parent Adoption results in a name change and amended birth certificate for the minor child.

Adult Adoptions

In cases where a step-parent and step-child have chosen to wait until after the child’s 18th birthday, they may both jointly petition the Court as adults for the older to adopt the younger. In an Adult Adoption, there is no requirement to notify the biological parent or obtain his or her consent, and there is no home study requirement. An Adult Adoption is not limited to step-parents and step-children. Any adult may adopt another, so long as the adopting party is at least ten years older than the adopted party. An Adult Adoption also enables the parties to obtain a new birth certificate and change of name of the adult adoptee.

Independent Adoptions

Ms. Jansen also represents adopting couples in the Independent Adoption Process, at all steps following the matching of the birth-mother and couple. Ms. Jansen will assist the adoptive couple in arranging for the pre-placement counseling of the birth-mother by an Adoption Service Provider, accounting of proper adoption related expenses, discharge of the baby from the hospital into the custody of the adoptive couple, filing the adoption petition, serving notice on the birth-father and obtaining his consent or waiver of objection, obtaining court orders terminating the parental rights of biological parents and freeing the child for adoption, and the final court appearance to obtain an Order for Adoption.

Birth-Parent Consultations

In cases in which the adopting couple is represented by other counsel, Ms. Jansen is available to provide legal counsel to a birth-mother who exercises her right to receive legal advice during the period of pre-placement counseling provided by the Adoption Service Provider. The attorney for the adoptive couple, in consultation with the Adoption Service Provider, generally deposits a retainer in advance to cover the fee for a two hour consultation.

Mediation of Post Adoption Agreements in Open Adoptions

The ideal open adoption is one in which both the adoptive couple and the birth-parents honor each other and have a mutual understanding of guidelines for the future privacy of all parties while allowing for as much, or as little, ongoing exchange of information or contact as all the parties may wish. In some adoption cases, the adopting couple and birth-parents may wish to have attorneys make these arrangements. In other cases, the parties may want to have face-to-face meetings in the structured and confidential venue of a mediation session. Ms. Jansen mediates both pre-adoption and post-adoption issues.