ADOPTION LAWYER IN SALT LAKE CITY
Helping New Families Legally Establish Themselves
Adoption allows new families to grow and blended families to become closer. But the legal process involved can be complicated without proper guidance from a Salt Lake City adoption lawyer. At Intermountain Legal, our dedicated staff helps you consider your goals to determine if adoption is indeed necessary and then guides you through the process.
Utah Adoption Process
Adoption establishes a parent-child relationship between individuals who are not naturally related. In many cases, the process requires a natural parent to relinquish his or her right to the child being adopted, which is why legal adoption requires a court proceeding and adherence to strict procedures. Adoption attorneys in Salt Lake City must ensure that several parties receive notification of your intent to adopt, including the child’s natural parents, any current guardian or custodian and any other person standing in loco parentis — serving a role similar to a parent in place of a parent.In many cases, including the adoption of a minor stepchild, the noncustodial parent must consent to the adoption. If the noncustodial parent refuses to consent, a trial may be necessary. If a trial occurs, a Salt Lake City adoption attorney must establish grounds for the termination of the noncustodial parent’s rights.
Grounds for termination include the following:
- Abandonment
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Unfitness
- Incompetence
Moreover, a father who was not married to the mother of the child being considered for adoption may not have to consent if he did not establish a substantial relationship with the child.
Adoption attorneys in Salt Lake City usually make every effort to avoid a trial in adoption proceedings. And as is often the case in family law in Salt Lake City, a willingness to negotiate and discuss the issues can usually bring about consent from even an initially reluctant noncustodial parent. As knowledgeable attorneys, we at Intermountain Legal fully understand the issues that can occur during adoption proceedings and know how to avoid them. While we try to avoid litigation in adoption cases — and usually succeed in doing that —, we are prepared to go to trial when necessary.
Call the Firm for a Consultation About Adoption
Through our comprehensive family law practice, Intermountain Legal has helped people throughout Utah successfully navigate the adoption process. Our clients have included blended families adopting minor stepchildren as well as couples seeking to adopt unrelated children. Call our office today at 801-970-2800 or contact us online to schedule a 30-minute attorney consultation for the flat fee of $125 to discuss your family law matter.
Our Other Services
Intermountain Legal is located in Salt Lake City, UT and serves clients throughout all of Northern and Central Utah including Salt Lake City, Midvale, Sandy, West Jordan, North Salt Lake, Bountiful, South Jordan, Clearfield, Woods Cross, Draper, Farmington, Centerville, Layton, Ogden, Lehi, Provo, Orem, Park City and the counties of Davis, Salt Lake, Weber, Utah, Tooele and Summit.