Whether you’re looking to start a family or expand, adoption can help you fulfill a lifelong dream and help a child in need. Given the sensitivity and importance of the matter, adopting a child can be a complicated process. Fortunately, working with an attorney increases your chances of getting the right guidance and finalizing your adoption.

Who Is Eligible to Adopt?

North Carolina family law allows all legal adults to adopt, provided they have a stable source of income and enough room in their home to accommodate a child. Married couples typically file to adopt jointly, but one spouse may file on their own if the other consents. Step-parents can adopt their new spouse’s children after marrying. North Carolina does not permit second-parent adoption, so in cases where an unmarried couple seeks to adopt, only one parent can file. The state does not have any official restrictions on single parents adopting a child.

How Do I Start the Process?

Prospective parents must live in the state for at least 90 days before applying and undergo a Pre-Placement Assessment (PPA) by a county office of the North Carolina Division of Social Services. This includes a criminal background check and a series of home visits and interviews to establish your fitness as a new parent. Upon passing the PPA, you can register to access AdoptUSKids and the state’s database of children waiting for homes.

Why Do I Need an Attorney?

North Carolina allows several types of adoption, each with its own legal processes:

• Agency Adoption: This occurs when a licensed agency or county social services office facilitates the process.
• Independent Adoption: This is a private agreement between the child’s birth parents and adoptive parents.
• Relative Adoption: This private arrangement occurs between relatives, such as placing a child with an adult sibling, grandparents, or aunt and uncle.
• Foreign Adoption: Certain countries have unique procedures that require re-adoption when the family returns to the United States for the purposes of finalizing the relationship.

The state also permits both open and closed adoptions. Open adoptions allow the child to contact their birth parents, while a closed adoption prevents this. In closed adoptions, the birth parents may still provide medical records for genetic history and blood or tissue donation compatibility.

In all cases, an adoption agreement is a contract that benefits from an attorney’s involvement. While it isn’t required, it can simplify your path to receiving an adoption decree and growing your family. The attorney protects your rights during the PPA phase and possible appeals. If you are permitted to move forward with an adoption, they will prepare and review the necessary petitions for finalization.

When you’re ready to welcome a child into your home, trust Fulcher Law Firm to provide guidance and support. The firm has been helping families in Montgomery and Stanly counties navigate North Carolina’s adoption requirements and proceedings. Visit the firm online for details about their family and adoption law services, and call (704) 984-6060 to schedule a consultation with an attorney.