Experienced, Top-Rated Washington County Adoption Attorneys

Adoption Lawyers With Offices in Germantown, West Bend and Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Adoption is a legal process that involves taking another person's biological child into your family.  After a person legally adopts a child, he or she is legally responsible for that child's well-being, for providing food and shelter, and for providing for the medical and educational needs of the child. In a standard adoption, the rights of the birth parent are terminated when the rights of the adoptive parents are recognized.

Becoming the legal parent of a child carries with it both rights and obligations.  You will have the right to custody as well as the responsibility to care for the child and make decisions about his or her education, health, and more.

Step-parent adoptions:

At times, a step-parent will wish to adopt his or her spouse's child.  In these cases, the rights of the birth parent are not terminated. They will be shared with the adoptive parent.  In some respects the legal process associated with a step-parent adoption is easier than the process involving other forms of adoption.  However, there are disputes that may arise if the other parent of the child (usually the non-custodial parent) objects to the adoption.  If the other birth parent refuses to consent, the adoption will not be allowed unless that parent's rights are terminated for some reason.  The emotional impact of the adoption also needs to be considered.  The step-parent adoption not only severs the legal relationship with one biological parent, but also with members of that parent's family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Attorney Lisa M. Vanden Heuvel of Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C. can assist you in addressing any issues that do arise.

Why an adoption attorney?

Adoption is a legal process.  Specific forms must be completed properly.  By working with an adoption attorney, you can ensure that the process will be handled smoothly and efficiently and that any problems that arise will be addressed promptly and correctly.

Contact an adoption attorney at Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C. today for a FREE CONSULTATION regarding adoption, step-parent adoption, paternity, termination of parental rights, grandparents' rights and other areas of family law.

Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C. represents clients in Washington, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Fond du Lac, Dodge and Sheboygan, Wisconsin counties.