The way Hollywood sometimes spins it and the way the media often sensationalizes it, there are a lot of people who have a connotation that adoption can be red-tape, legal nightmare. That, however, really is not the case. Whether you are looking to adopt in Tulsa or somewhere else, plenty of adoptions have and continue to take place. In fact, the State Department reported that 501 adoptions took place in Oklahoma between 2010 and 2015.
Tulsa adoptions attorney and Fry & Elder’s Luke Barteaux says the word adoption can conjure up some uneasiness, but it does not have too, saying: “Some people hear that word and they just start assuming that adopting is an act that will be really tough to execute. That’s not really the case at all, but there are channels one must cross to adopt.”
Why People get the Wrong Idea About Tulsa Adoptions?
First off, if you are thinking about adopting, you need to be aware of that in the United States there are numerous adoption avenues one can take. This, however, should not be misconstrued as a bad thing but as a very good thing. Multiple options, in the legal system in particular, are very good indeed.
There are international or overseas adoptions, which may have specific conditions that need to be met depending on the country of origin. Adoptions in Tulsa and the rest of the U.S. typically fall under three classifications:
- Independent Adoption (without and agency)
- Domestic Adoption (through an agency)
- Foster Care System Adoption (adopting a child that is in the care of the state)
This might seem like a lot to take in and it is to a degree. Just like so many other things in life there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of adoption, making it all the more important to seek consultation with a proven, experienced and accomplished Tulsa adoptions attorney.
Luke Barteaux
How Do Independent Adoptions Typically Work?
Independent adoptions typically take place with the birth mother and prospective adoptive parents negotiating the adoption without involving an outside agency. An adoption attorney is needed to mediate the process and make sure that everything adheres to proper legal procedure. Oklahoma and most other states allow independent adoptions to take place, but they are illegal in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and North Dakota.
How Do Domestic / Agency Adoptions Typically Work?
In this case, domestic Oklahoma adoptions and elsewhere incorporate the services of an outside agency where the prospective adoptive parent typically is not in direct contact with the birth parent or foster care system. These adoptions are beneficial for adoptive parents who need or feel more comfortable using the services of a “go-between,” which is essentially the role an agency plays in matching children with parents. That said, not all agencies function alike. Some agencies provide more services than others and some work on a national level, while others focus on one state. If you are considering going with a domestic adoption, know going in that there are disparities between agencies and that you are not using an overnight adoption service.
How Do Foster Care Adoptions Typically Work?
While prospective foster care adoptive parents will have to go through a training program that is closely monitored by state authorities, there are some inherent advantages to adopting through the foster care system. These benefits include but are not limited to many adopted foster care children receiving state subsidies and that some public agencies don’t charge a fee for services when you adopt a foster child. Those looking to learn more about foster child adoptions should visit AdoptUSKids.org.
How Do Foreign Adoptions Typically Work?
Just like domestic adoptions, those expecting a quick match are not likely going to find one from a foreign adoption. However, many may be surprised to know that wait times are usually shorter for foreign / international adoptions than other types of adoptions. This primarily stems from the fact that there usually are more children available, which often is not the case in domestic adoptions. This also is often the case because unlike some independent adoptions, the adoptive parents do not have to factor in a birth parent becoming uncertain in a foreign adoption. The potential drawbacks of foreign adoptions are that they usually are more expensive, involve language barriers and babies are not readily available.
Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?
Adoptions do not have to be as difficult or time consuming as many people make them out to be, but if you are looking to adopt, you are going to want to have a well thought out game-plan and strategy intact before proceeding. This can be effectively accomplished by consulting with a proven and experienced Tulsa adoptions attorney. Barteaux devotes much of his legal practice to adoptions. He has been selected as as a SuperLawyers® Rising Star and is a 2016 graduate of the Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy.
In addition to Barteaux, firm attorneys Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., James R. Elder, M. Shane Henry, Aaron D. Bundy, Lorena Rivas, Katie Egan, Kirsten Bernhardt and Melissa Fell have each garnered numerous accolades throughout the years to help Fry & Elder achieve elite status on both state and national levels. The Tulsa law firm has been named to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List from 2014-2016. Contact Fry & Elder today to speak with an established and decorated Tulsa trial lawyer and Tulsa adoptions attorney.