Adoption in Joplin, Missouri
If you are wanting to adopt a child, tackling the process on your own without the assistance of an attorney can be both daunting and frustrating.
Missouri has adoption laws in place to protect the interests of children and ensure that adoptions are carried out in a legal manner. Prospective adoptive parents must undergo background checks, complete adoption training and education, and obtain approval from a licensed agency or court before adopting a child.
What Is the Legal Process of Adoption?
The legal process of adoption in Missouri involves the termination of parental rights of the child's birth parents and the transfer of those rights to the adoptive parents. This process can take several months to complete, and the adoptive parents must have the child's best interests in mind at all times.
What are Open and Closed Adoptions?
Missouri law allows for both open and closed adoptions. In an open adoption, the child's adoptive parents and birth parents have some level of contact, while in a closed adoption, there is no contact between the two parties.
Adoption Attorneys in Missouri
In Missouri, adoption is governed by Missouri Revised Statutes § 453. It provides guidelines and requirements that must be both followed and satisfied for a legal adoption. The attorneys at Checkett, Pauly, Bay & Morgan, LLC, can assist you through the wonderful experience of adding to your family in Joplin or Carthage.