Adoption

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a family lawyer is to lead parents through the process of adoption. James Watkins Attorney at Law handles stepparent adoptions — we are not an adoption agency, and we do not assist clients in finding infants to adopt. We do help couples who want to solidify the tie between a committed stepfather or stepmother and their stepchildren by way of adoption.

Whether the other biological parent has died, is no longer involved in the child's life, or has agreed to a termination of parental rights, the guidance of an experienced adoption lawyer is valuable and reassuring. The Maggio Law Firm uses every available legal tool to ensure that a stepparent adoption handled by the law firm will not be reversible for any reason.

An adoption changes a family tree forever. It is often an appropriate decision for a stepparent who is already an involved parental figure in the life of a child whose biological father or mother is no longer involved. Through adoption, the stepchild may become eligible for Social Security and life insurance benefits in the event of the untimely death of the devoted stepparent.

When it is in the child's best interest to formalize the parental bond between stepparent and stepchild, parents are well advised to contact a family law attorney who is well acquainted with all the necessary steps in the adoption process. These steps include a petition for freedom from parental custody (termination of parental rights), social services requirements such as a home study investigation, and proactive communications with an absent biological parent who might wish to contest the proposed adoption.