Multi-State Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

Home Studies in Adoption Have you decided that you would like to adopt a child? This is wonderful news, as adoption can be a joyous experience for couples and the child. Whether you are adopting a child in the United States or pursuing an international adoption, a home study will be a critical step in the process. Home studies are required in almost every adoption. The studies are given a lot of weight in the courts, as judges consider whether an adoption is in the best interest of the child. A home study will go in depth to determine what

Local Process and Requirements Intercountry adoption is a form of adoption in which the adoptive parents are citizens of one country (the United States for our purposes), and the adopted child is the citizen of another country. The U.S. Department of State recommends adopting from countries that are parties to the Hague Convention, as the Convention offers further protections for adoptive families.1 The recommended process requires that the adopted child be formally adopted in its home country before entering the United States.2 Once the foreign adoption is complete, the adoptive parents must meet further requirements set by the United States

A 9-year-old girl was removed from her adoptive parents’ home after her biological father was released from prison and demanded her back. Since 2006, Sonja had been living with Kim and David Hodgin and was formally adopted by them in 2008. Her father, John McCaul, was serving a 15-year prison sentence on a gun charge that was later reduced to 7-1/2 years, allowing McCaul to assert his parental rights and fight to reverse the adoption. In November 2009, the court reversed the adoption. The girl continued to live with the Hodgins as both parties fought for custody. Nearly five years

Drafting and Enforceability of Post-Adoption Contact Agreements Post-adoption contact agreements are agreements between the adoptive parents and the birth parents that allow birth parents to enjoy a continued relationship with the adopted child after the adoption is finalized. Research has shown that post-adoption contact can be especially beneficial for children adopted from foster care, as they are generally older and have established relationships with birth families. An opportunity to connect with the birth family of the foster child can help the child deal with “attachment issues,” feelings of guilt and sadness that can prevent a foster child from bonding to

The definition of an American family has grown to embrace a variety of domestic situations. In some cases, a step-parent is the best choice to fill a void that exists in the family. Although you can develop a close relationship with your step-children through the marriage process, many step-parents choose to legalize the role by becoming an adoptive parent. It’s not uncommon. In fact, step-parent adoption is the frontrunner as one of the most common ways to adopt children in America, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The same holds true for residents of Saint Louis

Find out the difference between open and closed adoptions. Learn how they may affect both parties and how Kansas law affects getting information after an adoption. Both the adoptive family and birth parents have options when it comes to handling an adoption in Kansas. One of those is whether it will be open or closed. In general, these terms refer to the exchange of information, but it may also refer to the amount of involvement. Before you adopt or give a baby up for adoption, you should understand them. Open adoptions According to American Adoptions, the most common type of

Adoptive parents in Missouri should gain a bit of insight into how to help an adoptive child feel at ease in her or his new home. Deciding to adopt a child is a huge undertaking, one that requires an abundance of thought and planning. Missouri adoptive parents can use a few suggestions about steps they can take to make their adoptive child or children feel right at home and help them ease into the transition, paving the way for a solid and long-lasting bond between parent and child. Learn the type of life the child had before being adopted Deciding

It’s easier than ever for people who were adopted in Missouri to obtain information on their origins. This is a change from much of the past, when it was often very difficult for an adopted person to locate any information about their birth parents. Why do people seek such information out to begin with? For some, it’s to gain an understanding of their history or to meet their birth parent(s). For many, it’s about knowing their health history. This can be crucial in order to take preventive measures and to help doctors identify the best treatment options for various ailments

Stepparent adoption is a way in which a stepparent can gain legal parental rights and form an unbreakable bond with his or her stepchildren. Stepparent adoption is a way in which a stepparent can gain legal parental rights and form an unbreakable bond with his or her stepchildren. Blended families are common not only in Missouri but across the country. With the first-marriage divorce rate hovering at around 50 percent – and the United States Census Bureau reporting that about 40 percent of those people choose to marry again – it is easy to see why. In many ways, blended

Twelve men are suing the state of Utah because of a law that allows mothers to put up their babies for adoption without the father’s consent, and in some cases knowledge. Wes Hutchins, attorney for the men, contends he is pro-adoption, but that the Utah Adoption Act has resulted in what amounts to “legalized fraud and kidnapping.” Hutchins is the current president of the Utah Council for Ethical Adoption Practices and was formerly the president of the Utah Adoption Council. Some of the plaintiffs’ stories: “Well, I thought I was going to have a son,” Nikolas Thurnwald recalled. He said