Bixby Adoption Lawyer
Adoption can be an exciting and joyful time for many families, but the legal process of adoption can be complex. As with any major family change, adoption also brings important estate planning considerations to ensure your growing family is fully protected.
Whether you are looking to adopt a child or place your child for adoption, having an experienced Bixby adoption attorney on your side can help you avoid many of the common issues faced during Oklahoma adoptions.
At Helton Law Firm, our adoption lawyers bring big-firm experience with small-firm values to every client’s representation. Our adoption attorneys in Bixby can help you through all types of adoptions, so contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and get started.
What Are the Legal Consequences of an Adoption in Bixby?
When an adoption is complete, the adoptive parents have full parental rights for the adopted child. In the eyes of the law, the effect is the same as if the adopted child had been born to the newly adoptive parents. Some of the legal effects include:
- A new birth certificate listing the adoptive parents
- The adopted person can take the new parent’s last name
- The parental rights of the birth parents are terminated
- The adopted child qualifies for dependent benefits of the new parents, such as insurance and inheritance
Since the outcome of an adoption has significant legal consequences, make sure that you get help from an experienced Bixby adoption lawyer to go through this process.
Why Do I Need a Bixby Adoption Attorney?
Adoptions must meet all the legal requirements to be effective, and navigating this process on your own can be challenging. An experienced adoption lawyer in Bixby can help you by:
- Handling all the necessary paperwork
- Answering all your questions and giving you sound legal advice
- Communicating with any adoption agencies that are involved
- Negotiating the terms and conditions of the adoption
- Representing you at all court hearings
Let our experienced team of adoption attorneys at Helton Law Firm guide you through all the necessary details of the adoption process.
Are the Birth Parents Required to Consent to the Adoption?
No, the birth parents are not always required to consent to adoption in Oklahoma. While parental consent can make the process quicker and smoother, there are situations where the adoption can be accomplished without the consent of one or both parents.
According to Oklahoma Statutes §10-7505-4.2 (2024), those situations include:
- When a putative father fails to prove he is the father of the child
- Where a parent has failed to maintain a relationship with the child for 12 of the previous 14 months
- Where a parent has willfully failed to provide financial support for the child for 12 of the previous 14 months
- When a parent fails to appear at the adoption hearing even after being properly served
- When a parent has abused the child or one of the child’s siblings
The law also allows for adoption without parental consent in some other circumstances as well. To learn more about these situations, it is best to consult with an experienced Bixby adoption lawyer for help.
Get Help From an Experienced Bixby Adoption Attorney Today
If you need help going through the adoption process, contact our team of adoption lawyers at Helton Law Firm today. Whether you are trying to adopt a child or are considering placing your child up for adoption, we can help you ensure that the proper legal process is followed.
Call an adoption attorney in Bixby, OK, today at (918) 928-7104 to schedule a free consultation and let us put together a strategy to help you get the outcome you desire.
