Roslyn Attorneys Manage the Legal Aspects of Adoption

New York lawyers determined to help families achieve their goals

Adopting a child brings happiness to families, but a biological parent’s change of heart or an immigration setback can turn a joyous occasion into a stressful ordeal. At Van Horn & Friedman, P.C. in Roslyn, we have experience fighting for the rights of our clients throughout New York to add to their families through adoption. We have the skill and determination to guide you through the complex legal procedures and frustrating red tape of the adoption process so you can focus on your new family member.

Our determined advocates assist clients in New York with the following areas of adoption:

• Termination of parental rights
• Paternity registry
• Open adoptions
• Closed adoptions
• Private adoptions
• Domestic adoptions
• International adoptions
• Step-parent adoptions

Termination of parental rights

Stories abound about birth parents challenging an adoption after it is finalized. These well-publicized news accounts reflect a real fear for adoptive parents. The suffering associated with a badly-handled adoption affects everybody involved — the adoptive parents, the birth parents and the children who are caught in the middle. At Van Horn & Friedman, P.C., we ensure that both the birth and the adoptive parents’ rights are respected so that the end result is a final adoption that cannot be challenged. We substantiate that the birth parents consent to the adoption freely and voluntarily to avoid claims of fraud, duress and coercion that can be grounds for restoring a birth parent’s rights.

Handling the paternity registry

The biological father has the same rights as the biological mother in deciding whether to voluntarily terminate parental rights. New York laws seek to balance the father’s rights with the well-being of the child through a paternity registry. The process prevents the unsettling disruption of a child’s life caused by a father’s parental claims after the adoption’s finalization. A man who knows or believes he is the father of a child can apply to the putative father registry to receive notices of judicial proceedings related to the child, including those associated with the adoption process. Our attorneys at Van Horn & Friedman, P.C. take all necessary steps to confirm that the father provides consent or that no father is registered with the database.

Strong counsel for all types of adoption

An open adoption agreement permits the biological family to maintain a relationship with the child. The terms of the agreement are established by written contract and can include any level of involvement ranging from regular visits to yearly snapshots exchanged by mail. A closed adoption protects the identity of the biological parents and the child, but may include disclosure of essential information such as the child’s heritage and medical history. Whichever type of adoption you choose, we meticulously draft a contract that reflects the terms of your adoption.

Experienced in handling international adoptions

International adoptions present unique challenges. Also called inter-country adoptions, the process involves a complex web of laws and policies, including those of New York, the United States, U.S. immigration, the child’s country of birth and the Hague Adoption Convention. Our attorneys aggressively work to speed up the process and overcome any obstacles. Our goal is to help you bring your child home as soon as legally possible.

Contact skilled New York adoption attorneys

At Van Horn & Friedman, P.C., located in Roslyn, New York, we fight for the rights of our clients throughout New York to add to their families through adoption. Call 866-205-8221 or contact us online to schedule a consultation at our office.