Are You Considering Adoption? Bailey Legal Services Can Help
It can be challenging to understand the West Virginia adoption process. While adding a child to your home can be a gratifying experience, the process is often complicated. A missed deadline or misinterpreted question delay or lengthen the process. No need to worry, though. Bailey Legal Services is here to help. This month, we will help you understand West Virginia adoption.
First, our attorneys will talk about the adoption pathways within the state. Then, we will explain the four phases of adoption. Finally, our attorneys will help you determine your eligibility to adopt a child. Here at Bailey Legal Services, we pride ourselves on helping clients understand the West Virginia adoption process. Our lawyers are happy to help you as you undergo the process of bringing a child into your home.
Understand the Adoption Pathways in West Virginia
If you are considering adoption, there are several pathways in which to do so. If you think one way isn’t feasible for your life, you can always go another route. Taking the time to review these pathways can make the entire process much more manageable. Prior to embarking on the process, it’s vital to decide which of the following paths to take:
Foster Care
Foster children under the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources live in a foster home. Their biological parents no longer have their parental rights, making them eligible for adoption.
Foster to Adopt
The court places youth in your home as a foster child with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. This scenario occurs with the expectation that you will legally adopt the child if they become eligible.
Adopt an Infant
Children under 8 years old undergo adoption through intermediaries such as lawyers or private agencies. In this situation, it is best to use a lawyer to help you in a surrogacy matter or independent adoption.
- Adopt a Grandchild
- Kinship Adoption
- Relative Adoption
- Stepchild Adoption
Here’s How to Determine Adoption Eligibility
While adoption is such a joyous and rewarding experience, not everyone can adopt a child. There are several parameters that individuals must meet before becoming eligible for adoption. In order to complete the West Virginia adoption process, it’s essential to meet the following requirements:
- All household occupants must agree on adoption.
- You must be a U. S. citizen.
- Individuals must be at least 21 years of age and 15 years older than the child(ren) you wish to adopt.
- You must be financially stable.
- Individuals must have no felony criminal convictions.
- You must have no substantiated allegations of child abuse or domestic violence.
- Families must prove they can arrange appropriate childcare for when you are at work.
- You must prove you can provide a nurturing, responsible, patient, stable, flexible, mature, and healthy home life.
Learn About the Four Phases of the West Virginia Adoption Process
After determining your eligibility which pathway works best, the next step will be to take a pre-service training course. This class will help you decide if adoption is right for you. Like anything else, you must determine if adoption will work for you and your family. Here are the four phases to adoption in West Virginia:
Phase 1: Register as an adoptive parent with the state. You can complete the adoptive/foster parent inquiry form or call (866) 225-5698 to register.
Phase 2: Attend an adoption orientation session to learn about your rights and responsibilities as an adoptive or foster parent.
Phase 3: Complete a home study conducted by a social worker. The social worker will interview each family member, check out at least five references, and review medical and protective services. After that, the social worker will discuss the best possible child match for their home. You must undergo a home study if you consider international or private adoption.
Phase 4: After completing the home study and family assessment, you will receive a notification of approval. The state requires six consecutive months of placement in the prospective home before finalizing the adoption.
Consult an Experienced Attorney to Navigate the Adoption Process
If you are about to undergo the process of adoption, an experienced lawyer can help. They can handle the paperwork and represent you in legal proceedings. Whether you want to do a private adoption, adopt a foster child, stepchild, or relative, a lawyer can help. Our law firm can keep you on a straightforward path to successful adoption. Give Bailey Legal Services a call today to help you understand the West Virginia adoption process.
Bailey Legal Services Can Help You Understand the Process of Adoption
If you are interested in adoption, Bailey Legal Services can help. Attorney Michael Bailey has helped countless clients throughout West Virginia get through the process of adoption. We can help you navigate the process in the best way possible. Attorney Bailey genuinely cares about his clients and strives to serve them well with every case.
Since our inception, we have developed a solid reputation throughout West Virginia as the area’s trusted adoption attorney. Our clients continually trust our experience with the state’s adoption laws. To learn more about our family law services, contact us.
For more information on understanding the West Virginia adoption process, call Bailey Legal Services at (304)-736-0801, contact us, or email us. Check out our Facebook page for our law firm’s latest news and information. Our attorneys take great pride in serving clients in the best way possible. Let us help you understand the West Virginia adoption process.
