For adoptions in Minnesota, adoption lawyers can represent both adoptive-parents and birth parents in legal adoption proceedings in Minnesota. Sometimes adoption agencies are involved and sometimes they are not required. A law firm represents clients in both direct-placement adoptions and step-parent or relative adoptions.

In a direct-placement adoption, a birth mother has selected potential adoptive parents to adopt her child. In step-parent adoptions, a step-parent wishes to adopt his or her stepchild. Often in relative adoptions, an aunt or uncle wishes to adopt his or her niece or nephew or a grandparent wishes to adopt his or her grandchild. In all such proceedings, the birth mother and birth father (and/or any putative fathers) have rights that must be adhered to by the Court.

Despite what many people believe, adoption proceedings are very complex. They generally impact the rights of many individuals, including those who are not always known to the central parties of the proceeding. No matter which side of the adoption proceeding an individual may be on, it is always recommended that the individual obtain experienced legal representation to guide him or her through the difficult process.

A lawyer can assist with both agency and direct adoptions. In agency adoptions, the birth parents transfer their legal rights for the child to be adopted to the State of Minnesota or an adoption agency. Examples include foster care or international adoptions. With direct adoptions, we can assist both birth parents or adoptive parents. Direct adoptions are where the birth parents transfer their legal rights of their child directly to the adoptive parents.

In order to receive immigration benefits, a green card, or citizenship through adoption, the first criteria is that the adoption must finalize before the child turns 16. In some instances there is also a requirement that the child reside with the adoptive parents for 2 years.