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The decision to adopt a child is among the most exciting events in a lifetime. If you are considering step-parent adoption or kinship adoption, you need a knowledgeable adoption attorney to guide you through the legal process. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Kansas City adoption lawyers are experienced in adoption law and procedure and pleased to assist Kansas City area families with the adoption process.

Attorneys for Kansas and Missouri Adoption

The legal steps involved in adopting vary depending on the type of adoption, the age of the person being adopted, and the state where the adoption occurs. Our skilled Kansas City adoption attorneys are poised to help with your adoption proceeding—whether it takes place east or west of the state line.

Under Kansas and Missouri law, the first legal step involved in adoption is filing a petition with the court. The court may then order adoptive parents to complete state-specific requirements for adoption, such as home assessments and background checks. Depending on the circumstances, the court may need to obtain consent from the person to be adopted and/or the birth parents. A hearing is required to determine whether adoption will serve the best interests of the child. And the adoption is finalized with a decree of adoption.

Kansas City Lawyers for Your Adoption Needs

JHC’s attorneys regularly represent clients pursuing step-parent adoptions, kinship adoptions, and guardianships for minors.

• Step-Parent Adoption. Kansas City step-parents hire our step-parent adoption attorneys to formalize their familial bonds, to facilitate financial benefits for their step-children, and much more. We counsel clients regarding the legal requirements, advise them regarding potential challenges, and pursue their cases in court.
• Kinship Adoption / Family Adoption. Our Kansas City adoption attorneys also handle adoptions by other family members, such as when a grandparent adopts a grandchild.
• In some cases, guardianship may suit a family’s needs better than adoption. JHC’s Kansas City family law attorneys frequently help family members establish guardianship for minor children, including temporary guardianship and permanent guardianship.

Adoption Attorneys for Everyone

Among our Kansas City adoption clients are opposite-sex couples, LGBTQIA+ couples, and single individuals. We are dedicated to serving clients from all walks of life in Wyandotte County, Platte County, Jackson County, Clay County, and Cass County.

JHC’s Kansas City adoption attorneys are ready to help with this next step of your life. Call us today.

FAQs

Are there eligibility requirements to become an adoptive parent?

To adopt a child in Kansas, you must be at least 18 years old. You must complete an application, standard background check, a training course, and a home study process. You may adopt as a single adult or as a married couple. If you are married, you must have the consent of your spouse to adopt.

Any person may petition to adopt another as their child in Missouri. If married, the petition must be filed jointly. Assessments of the adoptive parents and the home are required, as is a criminal background check.

What does a Kansas City adoption lawyer do?

JHC’s Kansas City adoption lawyers work to understand their clients’ objectives and help them understand all available legal paths. For example, many clients seeking to establish formal care for minor family members are unsure whether they should pursue adoption or guardianship. We talk them through the legal effects and requirements of each option so they feel empowered to decide what works best for their family. Then we ensure our clients satisfy all eligibility requirements, guide them through the legal process, and handle all the paperwork and courtroom advocacy so they can focus on their growing families.