Columbia South Carolina Adoption Lawyers
Whether you are planning an open adoption, a private or closed adoption, or you are a grandparent looking to adopt your grandchild, the Columbia South Carolina Adoption Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm can help guide you through the entire process. Sometimes adoption law can be challenging. You must have an Adoption Lawyer on your side that understands the system. Our Columbia South Carolina Adoption Lawyers will handle everything, including all the documentation and the termination of parental rights. Give us a call today to schedule your consultation.
How do I adopt a baby in South Carolina?
Infant Adoption SC
South Carolina Adoption Law
Any resident of South Carolina can petition the court for adoption. These cases are usually handled by an SC Divorce Lawyer. While children will only be placed in homes with South Carolina residents, there is an exception to the rule, as in the case of special needs children. In those cases, children are usually placed with a relative. There are two main types of adoption in South Carolina, open and closed adoptions.
Open Adoptions in South Carolina
Open adoptions allow the birth mother to keep in touch with their biological son or daughter, even though the child has been adopted and/or all of their parental rights have been terminated. Open adoptions have become increasingly more popular over the last few years. In an open adoption, families are able to know the biological background. As a result, parents will have a detailed medical history for the child they are about to adopt. Open adoptions also allow the adoptive parents to be involved in the pregnancy process. If desired, the child can even stay in touch with the birth mother after the process has completed.
Closed Adoptions in South Carolina
Sometimes, the birth mother or families will prefer to keep the entire process private and anonymous. Closed adoptions are rarer than open adoptions. Typically, if there is any line of communication, parents will communicate with the birth mother through written communications, or through an agency. In this type of situation, adoptive parents may not learn anything about the child’s past or medical history.
Grandparent Adoptions in South Carolina
In certain situations, grandparents can adopt a child when the parents cannot provide a safe or stable home environment. This is also common where the parents voluntarily give up custody.
Adoption Rights for Same-Sex Couples in South Carolina
In South Carolina, same-sex couples can face some challenges for adoption. Generally, same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the protections that are available to married couples. South Carolina states that any person may petition the Family Court to adopt a child. While there are no specific laws in South Carolina that prohibit same-sex couples from adopting a child, there still can be a difficulty as marriage does not have any legal influence over adoption rights.
Termination of Parental Rights
When a Family Court terminates the rights of a parent, it legally ends the relationship between the parent and the child. Courts will terminate parental rights when one or both parents are unfit to care for the child, or when one party voluntarily relinquishes the rights to the child, and the child can be adopted by another family. Once the relationship is terminated, the parent no longer has any rights or responsibilities for the child. The child can still inherit from the parent unless a Final Order of Adoption terminates the child’s rights of inheritance. Click here to read more about the termination of parental rights.
South Carolina Adoption Lawyers
Given the complex nature of adoption law, you need a Columbia, South Carolina Adoption Lawyer to guide you through the process and fight for your rights.
