Myrtle Beach Adoption Lawyer

Adoption Attorneys in Myrtle Beach, SC

Sometimes, family law can be heartbreaking. Particularly in divorce cases and custody disputes, it can be an emotional rollercoaster for our clients and others who are involved in the process.

Then again, there are many moments when we know that we have done our job and we have helped our clients navigate the most difficult times in their lives.

And then, there are adoptions…

There are many different reasons why our clients choose to adopt a child, and there are different types of adoptions. What most of them have in common is that the outcome is almost guaranteed to be happy.

Adoptions are one of the few types of proceedings in the family court when the attorneys, clients, and court personnel all can walk out of the courtroom with smiles on their faces confident that they have just made a positive difference in a child’s life.

Your Myrtle Beach adoption attorney at Axelrod and Associates can help you to navigate the often-complex adoption process in SC including step-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, and foster care adoptions.

Step-Parent Adoptions in SC

Step-parents often consider adopting their new spouse’s children from previous relationships, but there are several things to consider before making this important decision. For example:

Does the biological parent consent?

The biological parent must either consent to the adoption or you must terminate their parental rights. Obviously, that is a big deal for most people and the choice can have a profound impact on the child and other family members.

Consider that, if the biological parent is spending time with the child and present in the child’s life, adoption may not be the best option.

On the other hand, if the biological parent is not present in the child’s life, does not contribute to the child’s upbringing, or can be deemed “unfit” by the family court, adoption might be the best thing for the child and your family.

If the biological parent does not consent, we will need to show the court with “clear and convincing” evidence that they are unfit before the court will act to terminate their parental rights and approve the adoption.

Grandparent Adoptions in SC

There are many reasons that a grandparent may wish to adopt their grandchild. When a parent is deemed to be unfit, grandparents or other close relatives are often the obvious choice for placement and custody of the child.

But, in situations where the custody arrangement will be long-term or permanent, adoption can bring much-needed stability to the home and child, and it allows the child to inherit and receive other financial benefits from the grandparents. Although many grandparent adoptions are by consent, when the biological parent is unavailable and has been deemed an unfit parent by the family court, consent is not required.

Foster Care Adoptions in SC

Foster parents will sometimes choose to adopt a child that they have fostered, and sometimes it is an uphill battle to make the adoption happen.

Once you have worked through issues like any special care that the foster child needs in the home and whether the biological parents will challenge the adoption, it can be a rewarding and happy end to a child’s search for a stable family and loving guardians…

GOT AXELROD?

If you are considering an adoption of any kind, the SC adoption attorneys at Axelrod and Associates want to help you. Call today at 843-916-9300 or complete our contact form to set up an initial consultation to find out what your options are and how we can help.