Exploring the Pros and Cons of Open Adoption In general, 60% to 70% of adoptions are open. This style of adoption involves the adoptive family and birth family continuing to stay in contact as the child grows up. To see if it will work for your situation, it can be helpful to learn a little […]

New Jersey Foster Care Adoptions A child is placed in foster care when their biological parents are no longer able to provide them with the care they require. In these cases, it is not safe to return the child to their home. The ultimate goal of the foster care system is to reunite the foster […]

Legal Guardianship and Adoption Are Different Did you know that about 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year? Legal guardianship and adoption are very different, one being temporary and the other being permanent. Many people confuse these two arrangements since they do have some similarities. As a New Jersey adoption attorney, we […]

What if the Birth Mother Wants to Keep the Baby? Only about 6% of birth mothers change their minds about adoption. However, if the birth mother does suddenly decide she wants to keep the child and there is a contested adoption, the adoptive parents should immediately retain a New Jersey adoption lawyer. It is fair […]

One of the most common questions adoption lawyers hear is “how long will it take to adopt a child?” On average, most families complete their adoption in 18 months or less. However, the type of adoption you pick will have a huge impact on the overall timeline. How Long Does a Domestic Private Adoption Take? […]

Parents who are considering adopting a child who has certain types of needs may be able to qualify for various state adoption assistance programs. In New Jersey alone, there were nearly 1,100 adoptions in 2011, which means that qualifying for an assistance program isn’t always simple and straightforward. Before you begin the adoption process, you […]

Your Guide to Private Domestic Adoption Costs If you are one of the 20,000 families doing a private domestic adoption this year, there are many expenses to consider. Understanding the costs associated with a private adoption can help the process go a lot more smoothly. Agency Fee Many private domestic adoptions are done through an […]

Adoption Law: Should You Enter Into Contracts With Birth Parents? In the not too distant past, most adoptions were closed, and many surrendered children never learned their birth parents’ identities. But times have changed, and today, nearly 70% of adoptions are “open.” Keeping communication lines open can be fulfilling for all involved, but things tend […]

How Do You Go About Adopting an Extended Family Member? In 2011, more than 1,000 children were placed in New Jersey with extended family members. The Main Goal The Department of Children and Families strives for the reunification of parents and children, but if this isn’t possible, the children will be designated as “legally free […]

Should I Adopt Domestically or Internationally? Several children are ready to be adopted in the United States. In fact, 107,918 American kids are waiting to be chosen by families right now. In addition to that, Americans completed 19,942 international adoptions in 2007. Should You Adopt Domestically or Internationally? Before you decide to adopt domestically or […]