Adoption Lawyers in Northern Virginia

Serving Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Reston & the Surrounding Areas

Adoption is a specialized area of the law that requires an experienced adoption attorney.  When it comes to deciding a child’s future, choose a lawyer who has the experience to make the process go smoothly from start to finish.  Whether you are considering adopting a child or you are pregnant and exploring options for your baby, Graham Law Firm, PLLC can help.

Contact us today or dial (703) 443-9360 to learn more about the different adoption options.

• For Parents Adopting in Virginia

  The decision to add a child to your family is one of the biggest – and most rewarding – choices you will ever make.  If you’re just getting started, you probably have a lot of questions.  Agency adoption or private adoption?  Domestic or international?  Open or closed?  These are all questions that we can help you answer at Graham Law Firm, PLLC.

  Adoption is a very specialized area of the law, and experience counts.  Mistakes can greatly delay your adoption, or even in some cases (such as failing to properly notify the birth parents or paying for the wrong expenses for an expectant mother) invalidate it.  For this reason, it’s important to choose an attorney with extensive experience in adoption law.

  Our adoption attorney, Elizabeth Vaughan, has practiced adoption law for over a decade.  She is a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist.

  Qualifying to Adopt

  Both individuals and couples may be approved to adopt a child. In most Virginia adoptions, a home study is required, especially in agency and parental placements. A home study is a review of the potential adoptive parent(s), the home, and anyone else living there. Areas under investigation include:

  • Current family dynamics
  • Potential dynamic after the addition of an adopted child
  • Reasons behind wanting to adopt
  • Educational background
  • Family history
  • Work history
  • Financial wellbeing
  • Criminal background for everyone living in the home

  Home studies are regulated by the state and generally take five to nine weeks to complete. Having an adoption lawyer by your side is the best way to navigate the home study process.

  Contact our compassionate Northern Virginia adoption lawyers to learn more about our legal services for adoption or to schedule a consultation.

• For Birth Parents

  If you are considering placing your baby up for adoption, you have the right to be fully educated about how adoption works and your rights throughout the process.  Many expecting parents don’t realize that they can (and usually should) have their own lawyer paid for during the adoption process.  This not only protects you, but it protects your baby, as your attorney will make sure that the process is done correctly from start to finish.  At Graham Law Firm, PLLC, we are a warm, no-pressure and non-judgmental place where you can talk about your options and how the adoption process works.

  Parental Placement Adoptions

  This is a type of non-agency placement wherein the birth parents choose the adoptive family directly. The birth mother may make this decision on her own as long as she first makes a good-faith effort to locate and obtain consent from the birth father. All parties receive counseling about the alternatives to adoption, and the court ensures no one is being coerced into it. If the proceedings move forward, all parties appear before a judge and request that the adoption be granted.

• Legal Counsel for VA Stepparent Adoptions

  Stepparent adoptions are a little bit different than other types of adoption.  If you are remarried and your child’s other parent is not in the picture, is harmful to your child, or agrees with your new spouse adopting your child, stepparent adoption might be right for your family.  Although stepparent adoption is a simpler process than most types of adoption, it’s still important to have an experienced attorney by your side to make sure that everyone is notified properly, the right steps are taken in court, and everything is filed on time for a smooth adoption process.  Whether you’re sure a stepparent adoption is right for you or you’re just beginning to explore it as an option, call us.  We are happy to talk you through the process and explore the next steps with you.

  Close Relative Adoptions

  Sometimes families step up and care for children who are related to them when biological parents cannot.  Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc. can adopt family members using a process that is simpler and quicker than an adoption between people who aren’t related.  If you think this might be right for your family, call us.  At Graham Law Firm, PLLC we can walk you through the steps needed to adopt a close family member.

  Our adoption lawyers can help you process the necessary paperwork and ensure you meet the requirements for a smooth, problem-free adoption. Contact us today for a stepparent and close relative adoption consultation in Northern Virginia.

• Contact an Adoption Lawyer in Northern Virginia

  Graham Law Firm, PLLC is proud to offer legal support for people adopting children in Virginia. We’ll skillfully guide you through the process to ensure a positive outcome for everyone. We are dedicated to meeting our clients’ needs and will help you navigate this transition in your life with the utmost expertise.

  Please call Graham Law Firm, PLLC at (703) 443-9360 or fill out our contact form to speak with an experienced adoption lawyer in Northern Virginia. We are based in Leesburg and serve the surrounding area, including Reston, Herndon, Sterling, and beyond.

• Our Service Area

  Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Bealton, Crystal City, Fairfax, Falls Church, Gainesville, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, Laurel Hill, Leesburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, McLean, Orlean, Purcellville, Reston, Sterling, Tysons Corner, Vienna, Warrenton, Winchester, and Woodbridge.