Adoption Attorney — Shapiro Freitas
Few legal events bring more joy to a family than adoption — and few involve more paperwork. From background checks and home studies to consent documents, court filings, and the termination of another party’s parental rights, adoption is a procedural undertaking that demands attention to detail at every step. At Shapiro Freitas, we guide families through each stage of the process so they can focus on welcoming the child rather than navigating the rules.
Different Adoptions, Different Requirements
The procedural path varies significantly depending on the type of adoption. A stepparent adoption typically requires consent or termination of the non-custodial parent’s rights. Agency adoptions involve additional layers of agency policy on top of state law. Private placements require careful management of birth-parent consent and revocation periods. International adoptions add federal immigration considerations. Each route has its own forms, its own timelines, and its own pitfalls.
Adoption Matters We Handle
Our adoption practice supports families with a broad range of proceedings, including:
- Stepparent adoptions
- Grandparent and other kinship adoptions
- Private domestic adoptions
- Agency placements
- Foster-to-adopt cases
- Adult adoptions
- International adoptions and U.S. re-adoptions
- Termination of parental rights proceedings
- Contested adoption matters
- Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) compliance
- Post-adoption contact agreements
- Finalization hearings
- Name changes and birth certificate amendments
Some adoptions move quickly through uncontested proceedings. Others involve complications — an absent biological parent, an interstate move, an objection by an interested party — that require careful legal handling.
How Shapiro Freitas Approaches Adoption
Our role is to ensure that nothing in the legal process derails what should be a celebration. We prepare petitions, coordinate with agencies and courts, manage consent deadlines, and stand with families at the finalization hearing.
Contact Shapiro Freitas Today
If you are considering adoption or have already begun the process and need experienced counsel, contact Shapiro Freitas today to schedule a confidential consultation and take the next step toward growing your family.