Ft Campbell Adoption Attorney: Guiding You Through the Adoption Process

Advocate for Child Adoptions in Ft. Campbell

Adopting a child is among the most rewarding of all family law matters. If you want to adopt a child in Ft. Campbell, you need legal guidance to guide you through the process. The types of adoptions vary based on whether the adoption is private, international, or through an agency.

Types of Adoptions in Ft. Campbell

The types of adoptions that can be performed in Ft. Campbell, Tennessee, will reflect the situation and include the following:

Adoption with Consent of Biological Parent: A biological parent may consent to an adoption. Once the child is adopted, the parental rights and support obligations of the biological parent are terminated and belong to the adoptive parent.
Private Adoptions: A private adoption is when an agreement is created between the adoptive parent(s) and the biological parents, which typically requires the assistance of an adoption lawyer.
Stepparent Adoptions: When one parent is no longer in the life of the child, whether through abandonment or after the death of the biological parent. The termination of the parental rights of the biological parent is required for a stepparent adoption in Tennessee.
Relative Adoptions: When the biological parents of a child are unable to care for the child, a family member can seek to adopt the child.
International Adoptions: This type of adoption requires an understanding of Tennessee’s adoption laws, along with the adoption laws of the child’s home country.
Adoption of a Foster Child: A child who has been fostered may be adopted in many cases. The biological parents must relinquish their parental rights.
Agency Adoption: Adoption agencies offer services to facilitate adoption. It is crucial to engage the services of a skilled adoption attorney in Ft. Campbell to ensure all legal paperwork is completed accurately and avoid the risk of challenges in the future.

What is the Adoption Process in Fort Campbell?

Adopting a child has a set of legal requirements that must be fulfilled in Fort Campbell, Tennessee, and the rest of the state. These requirements include:

You must have been a resident of Tennessee for at least six consecutive months (some exceptions for military members)
You will need at least five letters of reference
You will be required to undergo a health examination
You will be required to provide documentation of your marital status
All members of your household will be interviewed
You will be required to have a thorough home study
You must be at least 21 years of age
You will be required to complete training (PATH, or “Parents as Tender Healers”)

Foster children can be adopted, and foster parents are given first preference for adopting a child who has been under their care.

Challenges in Adoptions: When is Litigation Necessary?

Sometimes, an adoption may encounter issues that require legal action to be taken. These issues may arise in stepparent adoptions and relative adoptions. The biological parent may be unwilling to legally terminate their parental rights, even when a child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned. The court may act to terminate parental rights when it is proven that the child is at risk of harm affecting physical, emotional, and mental health. At the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates, our legal team takes on these challenges skillfully, with a well-prepared case fully supported by evidence and witness testimony.

Step-By-Step Guide to Adoption in Fort Campbell

The adoption process varies based on the legal issues that must be resolved. The basics of the process include the following steps:

Step 1

Determine if adopting a child into your family is right for you and your partner by evaluating all the emotional, financial, and legal issues of the process.

Step 2

Speak with a Ft. Campbell adoption attorney to understand how to best move forward with adopting a child.

Step 3

Schedule an adoption home study, where all family members residing in the home are interviewed.

Step 4

Health and fire safety home inspection and approval.

Step 5

Obtain five character references to support your adoption request.

Step 6

Pass a criminal background check.

Step 7

Complete TN-KEY Training (for prospective foster parents).

Step 8

Complete PATH (Parents as Tender Healers) training.

Step 9

Ensure all legal paperwork and filings are complete.

Parental Consent for Child Adoption in Tennessee

Any child adopted in the state of Tennessee requires that the biological parents relinquish their parental rights. Securing parental rights can be a complicated process for some children. A parent may contest the adoption. When the parent has committed certain acts, they may have their parental rights terminated through a legal process. A biological parent also could agree to terminate their parental rights, which makes the adoption process far more straightforward.

When Are Parental Rights Terminated in Tennessee?

Some parents lose their parental rights, and the child can be adopted into a new family. The types of situations that can lead to a court-ordered termination of parental rights include:

Neglect or abuse of a child.
Any form of sexual abuse of a child.
Child abandonment.
Failure to provide support for a biological child.
Extreme drug or alcohol abuse.
Incarceration for specific criminal acts.

Adopting a Baby in Ft Campbell

Adopting a baby may be your ideal goal for an adoption. In some adoptions, the biological parent agrees that another family should raise the child and will terminate their parental rights so a new family can make the baby their own. The earliest this can occur is on the fourth day following birth. The termination of parental rights can be revoked until the court approves it. The child is then surrendered to the adoptive parents.

Why You Need an Adoption Attorney

An independent adoption requires legal representation from a Tennessee adoption attorney. The legal steps in an adoption must be performed correctly to avoid specific risks. At the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates, we have over 20 years of experience in family law matters and military law and can assist both civilians and service members with the adoption process. The critical issues in adoption include ensuring the biological parents have legally terminated their parental rights and that all state requirements to adopt a child are completed.

What is the TN Home Study for Adoption?

The Home Study is part of the adoption process. The Study includes several steps:

You will need letters of reference, and those who have written these letters will be contacted.
You will be required to submit a criminal background check.
Your identity must be verified with legal documents such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, or other government-issued ID.
Your employment must be verified, whether as a service member or civilian, with tax returns and recent paycheck copies or stubs.
Your financial health will be evaluated.
Those who reside in your home will be interviewed.
Your general health will be evaluated by reviewing physician statements and the medical records of all home residents.
Your home will be evaluated for any risks that could harm a child, including ensuring firearms are stored and locked, cleaning supplies are out of the reach of children, and all in-home protections, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, are functioning correctly.
A review of safety measures you have put in place, including baby gates, locks on doors and windows, covered electrical outlets, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.

The Home Study process could take several months to complete in some cases.

Why Choose Us?

At the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates, we bring extensive experience and skill to every Ft. Campbell adoption. We take action to ensure every detail is in place to smooth the path to expanding the families of the people we represent. We have taken on simple and complex adoption cases and bring top-tier litigation skills to challenging cases. Call us today at 931-236-2711 for a free case consultation.