Adoption is a legal process whereby new parent-an-child relationships are created, and previous parent-and-child relationships are severed. The best interests and needs of the child are the primary purpose and goal of the adoption laws. The primary purpose of the adoption laws are to protect minors from unnecessary separation from their birth parents, to facilitate the adoption of minors, to protect minors from adoption by unfit adoptive parents, and to assure the finality of the adoption process. The secondary purpose of the adoption statute is to protect biological parents from ill-advised decisions to place their child for adoption, to protect adoptive parents from adopting a child with problems stemming from heredity, mental or physical problems without their informed consent, to protect the privacy of the parties, and to discourage the unlawful trafficking of minors for adoption purposes.

The legal effects of adoption include a complete substitution of families for all legal purposes, including support and inheritance rights. The entry of the adoption decree establishes a parent-child relationship between adoptive the parent and the child and, after the entry of the decree, the child has all the rights as that of a natural born legitimate child. The adoption decree severs the previous parent-child relationship between the biological parent and child. Single parents wishing to place their child for adoption should also be aware that once they have made the decision to adopt, it is difficult, if not impossible, to reverse their decision.

If you are considering adopting a child, putting a child up for adoption, or have other questions or concerns regarding adoption, the attorneys at Haas McNeil & Associates, P.A. will be happy to assist you through the complex legal process. Commitment and responsiveness to our clients' needs are our top priorities. Please contact us at 1-866-783-9669, or via our online contact form, to get more information and schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.