Tulsa Adoption Lawyer

Adoption is one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make. The legal process can be complex, whether you are growing your family, formalizing a relationship with a relative, or adopting someone who has already become an adult.

Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Helton Law Firm brings big-firm experience and small-firm values to every case. Our Tulsa adoption attorneys work closely with clients in Tulsa and throughout Northeast Oklahoma to handle all types of adoptions. We are here to help make the process smoother and more secure for everyone involved.

Who Can Adopt In Oklahoma?

Not everyone in Oklahoma is eligible to adopt. The law outlines clear rules about who can adopt:

• Any adult (at least 21 years old)
• A married couple, stepparent, or a single person
• LGBT people, including single people and same-sex married couples
• Relatives or non-relatives
• People with a criminal history, with some limitations

In Tulsa and other parts of Oklahoma, background checks, home studies, and court approvals are required. Our Tulsa adoption lawyers assist clients in meeting these standards and prepare the necessary paperwork.

In some situations, families also consider guardianship before pursuing adoption in Tulsa, especially when caring for a relative or child already in their home. If you’re looking to explore this route, contact our team of Tulsa guardianship attorneys for a free consultation.

What Are The Legal Effects of Adoption in Tulsa?

When a Tulsa adoption becomes final in Oklahoma, the law treats the adopted person as if they were born to the adoptive parents. This means:

• The birth parents’ rights are permanently terminated
• A new birth certificate is issued with the adoptive parent(s) listed
• The adopted person gains full inheritance rights
• The adopted person can take the adoptive parent’s last name

These changes are permanent and legally binding, so working with a Tulsa adoption attorney is essential to protect your family’s future. After the adoption is finalized, it’s crucial to revisit your estate plan with a wills and trust lawyer in Tulsa to ensure it fully reflects your new family structure.

What Are Open Adoptions in Tulsa?

Often, open adoptions in Tulsa occur between families who already know each other, and birth parents will remain in the adopted child’s life in some form. We can help craft enforceable agreements that provide for:

• Post-adoption contact between an adopted child and one or both of their birth parents
• Expectations and boundaries for future success
• Continued connections that benefit everyone involved

Must Both Biological Parents Consent to the Adoption in Tulsa, Oklahoma?

According to Oklahoma Statutes §10-7505-4.2 (2024), Tulsa adoptions can sometimes be accomplished without the consent of one or both parents. This can happen where:

• A parent fails to appear in court after being properly served
• A parent has willfully refused to financially support the child for 12 out of the last 14 months immediately preceding the filing of the adoption
• A parent has failed to maintain a relationship with the child for 12 out of the last 14 months immediately preceding the filing of the adoption
• A parent has physically or sexually abused the child, or one of the child’s siblings
• A parent has been sentenced to incarceration of 10 years or longer

There may also be other circumstances in which consent is not required. However, it is extremely important to meet with an adoption attorney in Tulsa right away so that deadlines aren’t missed.

Our Tulsa Adoption Attorneys Offer Real Help For Families

Our adoption lawyers in Tulsa assist with all types of adoptions in Oklahoma, including:

• New child adoptions, either private or through agencies
• Relative adoptions, such as grandparent, aunt, or uncle adoptions
• Adult adoptions

Regardless of your situation, we focus on helping Tulsa families establish legal and lasting connections that truly matter.

Let Our Adoption Lawyers in Tulsa Help Build Your Family

If you are considering adoption in Tulsa, our adoption attorneys at Helton Law Firm are ready to help you confidently move forward.

Call (918) 928-7104 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation with a Tulsa adoption attorney today.