Understand Family Law. Explore options in divorce, child support, custody agreements. Find a qualified family lawyer to guide you through the process.
When your brother or sister tells you they’re placing their child for adoption, it hits like a punch to the gut. You’re dealing with a whirlwind of emotions – confusion, anger, sadness, maybe even relief. And underneath it all, you’re probably wondering: “What are my rights here? Can I do anything?” The short answer is:…
Yes, adopted children can contest wills, but their legal standing depends on whether they’re challenging their adoptive parents’ will or their biological parents’ will. The rules are different and complex. Discovering you may have inheritance rights after being given up for adoption creates a whirlwind of emotions and legal questions. Thousands of adopted individuals face…
By Emma Thompson, LLB – Family Law Specialist with 15 years experience in Australian adoption law. Emma has guided over 150 families through adoption processes and is accredited with the Law Institute of Victoria’s Family Law Section. To put a child up for adoption in Australia, you must contact your state’s adoption service, receive counselling,…
By Sarah Mitchell, JD – Family Law Attorney specializing in adoption cases for over 12 years. Sarah has successfully guided 200+ families through foster child adoptions and serves on the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys board. Foster child adoption typically takes 9-18 months from your first contact with an agency to finalization in court. However,…
If you’re going through the stepparent adoption process, you’ve probably discovered that witness requirements can make or break your legal proceedings. Getting the wrong person to sign as your witness could delay your adoption for months or even invalidate critical documents entirely. In stepparent adoptions, witnesses must typically be adults (18+ years old) who are…
There’s no upper age limit for birth parents placing a child for adoption, but most private agencies prefer placing children under age 4. For adopting parents, you must be at least 21 in most states. Now, let me break down everything you need to know about age restrictions in adoption, because the details matter when…
A character statement for child custody should be 1-2 pages, written by someone who’s witnessed your parenting firsthand, include specific examples of your parenting skills, and follow a clear format: introduction, relationship details, parenting observations, and strong recommendation. But here’s what most people don’t realize: these letters are important evidence in custody cases, often influencing…
Picture this: It’s 2 AM and your ex just called threatening to disappear with your children. Or maybe you’ve discovered evidence of abuse and your kids are supposed to go to their other parent’s house tomorrow. Your heart is racing, your mind is spinning, and you’re thinking, “I can’t wait weeks for a regular court…
Look, I get it. You thought joint custody meant splitting everything 50/50, including the bills. But then someone mentions child support, and suddenly you’re wondering if you’ll still be writing checks every month even though you have the kids half the time. Here’s the truth that might surprise you: Yes, even in joint custody, one…