Your family can grow in many ways when you choose adoption, you are giving a child an opportunity to have a loving permanent home that may not otherwise have been an option with the child’s birth family. There are many ways adoption may be achieved and we would love to represent you in becoming a loving forever home for a child.
Adoptions are very technical from a legal perspective and should only be pursued with the assistance of an experienced adoption attorney. Some of the components involve adoption home studies through a state-approved licensed child-placing agency, voluntary surrender or consent by a birth parent for adoption, involuntary termination of birth parents’ rights for adoption, interstate requirements for adoptions crossing state lines, and appellate actions.
When adoption can be achieved by voluntary surrender or consent of a biological parent to the adoptive family, it is necessary to strictly comply with laws in Tennessee for the adoption to be valid. When adoption must be sought through involuntary termination of the birth parents rights to legally free the child for adoption, a variety of legal techniques and strategies may be applied to reach the achieved result. For involuntary termination, there must exist legal grounds for termination of the birth parents’ rights and legal factors in the child’s best interests. My law office has extensive experience in representing adoptive families in voluntary or involuntary adoptions in a variety of circumstances.
Jennifer L.E. Williams-
Attorney at Law
Adoption
Law
Contested Adoptions
When a child (related or unrelated) has been residing in a family’s home for such a time period that the family has become the child’s permanent home emotionally, it may be the right time to consider the home becoming the child’s permanent forever legal home through adoption. When the biological parents have not reunified with the minor child in a reasonable time frame, yet they will not consent to a voluntary adoption, then legal grounds for termination such as abandonment or other legal grounds may exist.
Uncontested Adoption
Birth parents may make a plan for adoption prior to the birth of the child either through an agency or privately. Either way, it is important for the adoptive family to seek legal counsel as soon as possible in order to legally prepare for a smooth transition of the child at birth.
Birth parents may also voluntarily consent or surrender to the adoption of the child at any age through a few different legal procedures. Each procedure is relatively simple and concise, but very legally technical and must be completed correctly.
Step-Parent/Relative Adoption
​
Adoptions which involve a certain degree of biological relationship or stepparent to the child allow the Court the option to waive the legal requirements for a home study and six month waiting period from the date of the filing of the adoption petition.
ICPC Adoptions
Interstate Compact for Placement of Children (ICPC) is a legal requirement for approval to be required before a child may be taken across state lines for the purposes of adoption. The process is tedious & intensive, but my law firm has handled countless ICPC adoptions and we strive to make the process as easy and expedited as possible for new adopting families.
State/Agency Adoptions
​
Children who have been in foster care and not reunited with their birth family are often freed for adoption or waiting for the termination of the birth parents rights. For decades, my law firm has worked closely with the State of Tennessee, Department of Children’s Service and countless agencies in the joint goal of freeing the child for adoption and finalizing the adoption process.
Adult Adoptions
Often family relationships are established after a person has reached the age of majority (18) and adoption remains an option. An adult may be adopted by another adult without the consent of the biological parent. It is a simple and expeditious process.