The journey towards adoption is filled with hope, anticipation, and sometimes a few bumps. Perhaps the most stressful situation, though, is when hopeful adoptive parents receive news a birth parent may contest the adoption. This situation occurs most often when the birth mother chooses adoption, and the birth father disagrees with her decision. It is important for you, the prospective adoptive parents, to understand your options and to assess whether the child can be legally free for adoption.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s crucial to understand your rights and take immediate action. Our office is contacted on a weekly basis by adoptive parents or adoption agencies faced with this difficult scenario. Too many times, our office is contacted to attempt to salvage an adoption mishandled by another firm. The sooner we can begin triage, the better.
First and foremost, prospective adoptive parents must understand they have the right to independent legal representation throughout the contested process. While the adoption agency will have its own legal team, hopeful adoptive parents can choose to retain their own attorney to ensure their voice is also heard in court. An experienced adoption attorney will act as your advocate, safeguarding your interests and aggressively pursuing a positive outcome in conjunction with your adoption agency’s attorney.
Second, it is vital to assess the situation early in the process to determine if there is an ethical and legal path to finalize the adoption. Florida’s adoption laws are very fair for birth parents and adoptive parents, so most seasoned attorneys can accurately assess the merits of the case from the start.
Here at Tate Healey Webster, we understand the emotional turmoil associated with contested adoptions in Florida. We have five board-certified adoption attorneys at our firm, many of whom handle highly contested termination of parental rights and adoption actions on behalf of adoption agencies and hopeful adoptive parents. Tate Healey Webster is considered one of the foremost leaders in this area. In fact, our attorneys are frequently asked to speak at adoption law conferences—locally and nationally—about navigating contested termination of parental rights and adoption actions.
Whether you desire independent legal representation or seek an attorney to collaborate with your adoption agency, Tate Healey Webster is here to guide you through this challenging process. Contact us today for a consultation and let us help you navigate the legal complexities of your contested case. Contact us today for a consultation, and let us help you navigate the legal complexities of your contested case.