Adopting a child is a wonderful opportunity, but it comes with important legal obligations. Even where the child already lives with you, background checks will be required along with assessments to determine your suitability. Objections raised by the child’s biological parents and other family members will need to be considered and a court order will have to be obtained before the adoption can be finalised.
Going through the adoption process alone can be difficult, whichever side you are on.
If you wish to adopt a child
For would-be parents, there may be issues with your application that need to be resolved before an adoption agency will put you on their books or before a local authority will support you in applying to the court to adopt a stepchild or other family member. Concerns may be raised about something you have said or done during an assessment which you believe are unfair, or objections might have been made based on inaccurate information which you wish to correct.
If your child has been put up for adoption
As a birth parent whose child has been taken into care and is being put up for adoption by the local authority, it is important that your voice is heard and that your concerns and wishes are taken into consideration. Our lawyers have extensive experience in advising families in this situation and in supporting birth parents to express their opinion, particularly where they are suffering from physical or mental health problems.
Advice and support is available at any stage of the process, from the time social services first contact you to raise concerns through to the point at which your child is removed from your care and you are notified of an adoption application.
Help available
Drawing on years of experience, the family law experts at Hatten Wyatt Solicitors in Kent can support you in:
- adopting a stepchild or relative;
- adopting a child in care;
- objecting to the adoption of your child;
- negotiating continued contact with your child before and after the adoption process;
- resolving problems which arise after an adoption has been finalised; and
- exploring alternatives to adoption.
Advising families throughout Gravesend, Kent and beyond
We have offices in Maidstone, Gravesend, Tonbridge, Chatham and Tenterden where we can meet you to discuss your requirements.
We can also offer meetings by skype for clients who have to travel extensively or who now live abroad. In exceptional circumstances, home visits can also be arranged.
Fixed cost initial appointment / Legal aid
We offer an initial 30 minute appointment to discuss your requirements for £115 plus VAT. Legal aid may also be available in certain cases and is normally always available for defending care proceedings and taking steps to protect against domestic violence or child abuse.
Get in touch with our adoption solicitors in Gravesend, Kent
If you need help with a family law matter, please get in touch to see how we can help. You can call us on 01474 351199 or use our contact form and we will call you.