Adoption Process
One of the challenges of adoption is putting together a team of professionals who can be trusted to know and navigate Utah’s adoption laws. A qualified adoption attorney is key to your team because creating a safe, legal, and permanent adoption requires court action.
Most domestic adoptions of a child under age 18 have two distinct phases. Although the timeline and tasks will vary depending on the specific adoption situation, below is a general outline of steps we take to make your adoption safe and legal:
PHASE 1
A petition for adoption of the child is filed with the court
Attorney develops a plan to address the rights of all biological or legal parents of the child
Birth father signs a Consent to Adoption or Denial of Paternity according to state law where child will be born or father lives, and a check of the birth state’s paternity registry may be made
Child is born (in the case of a newborn adoption)
Birth mother signs a Consent to Adoption according to Utah law or state law where the child is born (Utah – at least 24 hours after birth and there is no revocation period. Other states – may have longer periods before birth mother may sign, and may have a revocation period)
Child is placed with adoptive parents
Paperwork is filed with a court based on birth parent consents to adoption requesting the court order temporary custody of the child with adoptive parents pending finalization of the adoption
Begin six-month waiting period until adoption can be finalized
PHASE 2
Post-placement supervisory visits are made by social worker to adoptive family, and reports are prepared
Attorney gathers or prepares all documents required by law for the finalization of the adoption
A hearing date is set for “finalization” of the adoption
Adoptive parents appear in court with the child and their attorney for the official adoption finalization hearing
Assuming all requirements of Utah law are met, judge signs Decree of Adoption and adoption is approved
Following finalization hearing, additional paperwork is filed to obtain amended birth certificates and social security cards
We can help you reach your goals through personal attention and direct contact.
We offer a free, 30-minute consultation about your situation
You can call or email our office and reach our team directly
We are normally accessible to address any urgent or unplanned matters
Let’s talk about your situation and create a plan that fits your individual circumstances and the option that best fits your family.
Need Legal Assistance?
Contact Uintah Basin Law Group today to schedule a consultation and discuss how we can help resolve your legal matters.
Call us: (435) 789-7800
Adoption