Tacoma Adoption Attorneys Serving All Of Washington State

To file for adoption of a child, termination of the biological parent’s rights is required. Therefore, the biological parent must either consent to the termination of his/her rights, or you must serve a petition to terminate the biological parent’s rights if there is no consent.

When you have consent from the biological parent, the legal process is generally straightforward. If you do not have consent and the other party responds, your case could end up in trial, debating whether the biological parent’s rights should be legally terminated. RCW 26.33.100 details what the termination petition must allege. In either situation, it is usually best to have an attorney in an adoption action because of the complexities involved.

In either situation, the adoptive parent must go through the referral process known as the “Next Friend Report” for step-parent adoption in Washington state. Through this process, the adoption investigator from the juvenile court will come out to your home to interview you and the child. Then, a report is submitted to the court, stating their findings and recommendations to the court on whether to approve the petition for adoption.

Co-Parent Adoptions

As a co-parent, adopting your nonbiological child is a heartwarming and loving gesture that can cement your status as a family. Our attorneys are knowledgeable about the adoption process and can help co-parents obtain consent from the biological parent without disrupting their parental rights.

LGBTQ+ Adoptions

The adoption process will require hours of work and effort. Our attorneys can help LGBTQ+ families navigate this complicated process and ensure they receive the biological parent’s consent to move forward with the adoption. Additionally, we can make sure you meet all of the necessary requirements to stand out among the other families looking to adopt.

Contact Our Firm For Adoption Advocacy

If you are considering adoption, please contact our office at 888-786-8628 or through email for a consultation to obtain more details and to determine whether your family is ready and prepared for this step.