Adoption Attorney Serving Fishers And The Indianapolis Metro
Adoption creates a permanent legal relationship between a parent and child, so the process requires more than completing a few forms. Indiana law sets specific rules for consent, notice, court filings, and other requirements and the steps can vary based on the type of adoption and your family’s circumstances.
At Horvath & Pelkey, LLP, our lawyers help families in Fishers, Hamilton County, Marion County and the broader Indianapolis metro with adoption matters. We can help you prepare and file documents, meet court rules and address issues that may come up during the case.
With more than 33 years of combined legal experience, our Indianapolis adoption attorneys provide clear and personal services. Call us at 317-314-4315 to schedule a consultation and talk with an attorney about your adoption matter.
Adoption Matters We Can Help Address
Our attorneys can guide you through the legal requirements for an adoption, from preparing the necessary documents to addressing consent issues and meeting court requirements. The sections below explain the adoption matters we can assist with and how we can support you through each stage.
Stepparent And Relative Adoptions
The county probate court handles stepparent and relative adoption cases. To qualify for a stepparent adoption, a stepparent generally must be at least 18 years old and legally married to the child’s parent.
A grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling can also petition to adopt a relative when parents are absent, unable or unfit to care for the child. If the child is at least 14, the child generally must also consent to the adoption.
The child’s other parent may consent to the adoption and give up their parental rights. If that parent does not consent, the court may need to decide whether to terminate those rights without consent. Abandonment, failure to provide support or failure to stay in contact with the child can be grounds for termination.
Our attorneys can also help with related paternity, parenting time, custody or guardians’ rights issues that may affect the adoption.
Other Adoption And Finalization Needs
We also help with adult adoptions, private adoptions, interstate adoption issues and agency placement finalizations. We do not arrange placements or match children with adoptive families. Instead, we focus on the legal steps before and after adoption, including preparing petitions, filing court papers and representing you at hearings.
Finalization takes place at a court hearing, where a judge reviews the case and signs the formal decree. Indiana law also establishes a six-month period to challenge an adoption decree after the judge announces it.
After this step, we can help you access post-adoption resources like counseling, crisis support or child support groups.
Talk With An Indianapolis Adoption Attorney Today
Your family deserves clear legal guidance during the adoption process. Contact Horvath & Pelkey, LLP, at 317-314-4315 to learn how our team in Indianapolis can assist with your adoption case.