Adoption Laws In Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
Whether you’ve been unable to conceive children of your own or are interested in helping a child without a family find the home they’ve only dreamed of, adoption is a great opportunity for those looking to open up their homes and hearts to children in need.
If you are adopting within the state of Pennsylvania, you need to make sure that you are aware of the laws regarding adoption so that you are well prepared for what’s to come. Read on to learn more about the requirements for adoption in PA and the steps you need to take to finalize your adoption before you can complete your family.
Starting Your Adoption Process
First and foremost, you will need to file your report of intention to adopt. This form will contain information about you and your family, the child you are going to be adopting, your intermediary (the person connecting you to your future child), and the birth parents of the child you’ll be adopting.
It’s worth noting that you do not need to file this report if you will be adopting a stepchild or another child who is your blood relative. If you are using an intermediary, you’ll need to file a separate report that includes information about the intermediary, the termination of the birth parents’ parental rights, financial transactions regarding the adoption, the the medical history of the child.
Finalizing Your Adoption
Once your petition has been filed, the courts will review your case and make sure that you are part of a responsible, caring family that is prepared to adopt.
They will also need to make sure that the birth parents’ parental rights have been terminated, whether that be voluntarily or involuntarily. For families who are adopting a newborn from a birth mother, there will be a 72-hour waiting period in which the birth mother will have the opportunity to reconsider her choice to put her baby up for adoption.
When all of your paperwork checks out and the birth parents’ parental rights have been effectively terminated, your adoption will be finalized and you’ll officially be the parents of your adoptive child.
Speak with a PA Adoption Lawyer
To start the ball rolling with your adoption, you’ll need a highly trained Pennsylvania adoption lawyer at Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C. to handle all of the legalities of your adoption. You can schedule your initial appointment today by filling out the brief contact form we’ve provided at the bottom of this page or by calling our office at (412) 231-9786.
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“Lisa herself is a very dedicated, hard working, professional and compassionate person. She is very driven to get the results you desire, but also listens to your needs and understands the difficult nature of the business.”
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“I've worked with this firm on more than one occasion and have nothing but HIGH PRAISE for their professionalism, expertise and knowledge.”
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“I not only recommend attorney Melissa Lewis, but I guarantee once you have used her service you will look no further. She responds in an extreme timely matter, is very knowledgeable, and an extremely trustworthy person.”
- Maurice B.
Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C. Is the Right Choice for Your Family Matters
Learn more about our firm and why you should entrust our experienced legal team to handle your family law matters.
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Strong SupportA team of senior attorneys, junior associates, paralegals and law school clerks for full legal support throughout the process.
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Complex CasesExperienced with high income, self employed professionals in complex support and equitable distribution cases.
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DiverseAttorney Lisa Marie Vari is trained as a mediator and collaborative family lawyer.
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ExperiencedMore than 30 years of experience practicing family law in Pennsylvania.
Request a Consultation
We can further discuss the individual details of your case when you come in for your no-obligation consultation, which can be scheduled by calling our firm at (412) 231-9786 or via the quick contact form we have included at the bottom of this page.