Adoption
Welcoming a New Addition to Your Family with Gallo Law Center
Navigating Denver's Adoption Landscape
Adopting a child in Colorado involves navigating a maze of intricate legal requirements and procedures. The laws governing adoption are designed to protect the best interests of children while ensuring prospective parents meet stringent criteria. Understanding these laws, making informed decisions, and managing extensive paperwork can be overwhelming. This is where having a knowledgeable adoption attorney by your side becomes invaluable.
Find some helpful adoption resource here.
Personal Commitment to Your Adoption Journey
Our founder, Meghan Gallo, has a personal connection to adoption, as she and her husband are in the process of adopting a sibling for their son. Her adoption experience fuels her commitment to helping families like yours. Her adoption experience give her a unique perspective on the complexities and sensitivities involved. Whether you are considering private adoption, navigating the differences between closed and open adoption, or need assistance with legal documentation, we are here to provide the support and guidance you need.
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Exploring Adoption Options in Colorado
When embarking on the journey to adopt a child in Colorado, it’s important to understand the diverse paths available to you. Each type of adoption offers unique advantages and considerations, and the right choice is deeply personal to your family’s circumstances. Here’s an overview of the different adoption options you can explore and also some more information about the Types of Adoptions by adopt.org.
Independent Adoptions
These adoptions occur within the United States without the involvement of an adoption agency. In this case, birth parents and adoptive parents negotiate terms, usually including contact agreements, medical history, and financial support.
Open Adoption
In an open adoption, birth parents and adoptive parents agree on ongoing contact. The level and frequency of communication are outlined in a legal agreement drafted by an adoption attorney. Open adoption is a legal arrangement where birth and adoptive families maintain ongoing contact. This can include exchanging letters, emails, visits, or phone calls, fostering transparency and relationships.
International Adoption
This type of adoption refers to adopting a child born in another country, governed by specific laws that vary between nations. This often includes securing visas, and following regulations to ensure ethical practices.
Foster Care Adoption
Also known as waiting child adoption, this involves adopting a child currently in the foster care system. Typically pursued by individuals or couples with legal custody, foster care adoptions require careful legal navigation to ensure the child’s best interests are upheld.
Stepparent Adoption
In stepparent adoptions, a stepparent seeks to adopt their spouse’s biological child. Consent from both biological parents is generally required. This adoption grants the stepparent full legal rights and responsibilities for the child.
Kinship Adoption
This refers to the adoption of a child by a family member who has had physical custody of the child for at least a year. This type of adoption prioritizes family bonds and continuity of care, involving court approval to transfer parental rights and responsibilities to the relative, ensuring the child’s well-being.
Closed Adoption
Ideal for those preferring anonymity, closed adoptions involve adopting without contact between birth parents and adoptive parents. Agencies typically manage these adoptions to protect the privacy of all parties involved.
Domestic Infant Adoption
This option involves adopting a child born in the United States who is one year old or younger. Infant adoption is a legal process where a newborn’s parental rights are permanently transferred from biological parents to adoptive parents, ensuring the child’s care and upbringing by the adoptive family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption in Colorado
We understand that embarking on the adoption journey raises many questions and concerns. To provide clarity and peace of mind, here are answers to some common questions:
Do I need to hire an adoption attorney?
Hiring an adoption attorney is highly recommended to ensure all legal aspects are handled correctly and efficiently.
Age requirements for adoption in Colorado?
Colorado law requires adoptive parents to be at least 21 years old, with additional criteria depending on the type of adoption.
Closed vs. open adoption
Understanding the differences between closed and open adoptions can help you make an informed decision about the level of contact with the birth parents.
What type of adoption cases do you handle?
We handle domestic, international, kinship, open, closed, and step parent adoptions.
Do we need to have an agency involved with my adoption?
Colorado is an agency state, and you will need to be represented by an adoption agency. They can help you with representing you and making sure that all the rules and formalities are in place.
Are you an AAAA certified lawyer?
At the moment we are on our way to becoming an AAAA certified adoption law center.
Where do I find the forms for starting a Colorado adoption?
You can find the important forms here.