Minneapolis Adoption Lawyer | Adopting A Child In St. Paul Minnesota

Adoption is a judicial proceeding that transfers all rights and responsibilities of a biological parent to an adoptive parent. Adoption is a way for parents to expand their family and provide a loving environment for a child. If you are considering adopting a child, you can rely on the Minneapolis law firm of Berg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A., to protect your interests throughout the adoption process.

Domestic and International Adoption in Minneapolis and St. Paul

People considering adoption have many choices and arrangements to consider:

Adoptions may happen at the international, interstate or local level.
Adoptions can be facilitated by a licensed agency or by private placement.
Relatives, stepparents and foster parents commonly adopt.
Governments may provide subsidies and/or financial assistance to people wanting to adopt, especially in cases of older or special-needs children.
Adoptions may be open, where the adoptive parents know the identity of the birth parents (and vice versa) or closed, where neither party is aware of the identity of the other.
Adoptions may occur through methods of assisted reproductive technologies such as surrogacy, a gestational carrier or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Because stringent rules about "traditional families" have lessened in recent years, adoption may now be an option for single people, unmarried couples and same-sex (GLBT) couples wanting to build families.

The Complexities of Adoption

Complex issues may arise during the adoption process, with regulations governing adoptions and related proceedings. Adoptions may involve the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) or the Hague Convention. Associated issues include termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings, filing notice on the Minnesota Fathers' Adoption Registry, the possibility of adoption subsidies, and contact agreements between birth parents and the child.

In addition, an adoptee may seek the identity of his/her birth parents or clients may face complications arising from media exposure. Our Minneapolis adoption lawyers have years of experience handling these complex adoption-related issues. We can compassionately and skillfully guide you through the process.

Representing Biological and Adoptive Parents

Both birth parents and adoptive parents may need representation and counseling during the adoption process. The state of Minnesota prohibits attorneys from matching children with possible adoptive parents; in Minnesota, only state-licensed agencies can perform this service. There are also specific rules, which vary from state to state, regarding the types of payments a birth mother may receive from adoptive parents.

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