Adoptions

Protect the Validity of an Adoption

An adoption is a way for your family to provide a loving home for a child. This is often one of the happiest experiences a family can ever have. A byproduct of the experience, though, can be a host of legal obstacles to hurdle. If you do not correctly follow and adhere to the complicated legal process, you run the risk of having your adoption overturned.

The lawyers at  Kenneth Kirk & Associates in Anchorage, Alaska, work hard to ensure the validity of your adoption. We help families locate a child to adopt, when needed, and guide them through the legal process of adoption. Contact us to learn more about the legal requirements of an adoption.

We provide people with a variety of ways to locate a child to adopt. Our firm cooperates with alternative-to-abortion agencies. We can also assist you in creating a birth parent letter, which will be shown to birth mothers seeking to place their child through adoption. If there is a match, we will facilitate a meeting between you and the birth mother.

Additional Consideration in Adoptions

If the child you wish to adopt has American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut ancestry, you must adhere to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Many Alaska adoption attorneys refuse to represent people in ICWA adoptions, since, under this federal law, parents must go through additional steps to adopt a child. There is also a greater risk that an adoption may be overturned. Our lawyers have successfully handled many ICWA cases.

We also handle adoptions across state lines. Interstate adoptions are governed by the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children (ICPC). This nationwide law causes additional complications to adopting a child.

The court will consider a variety of issues during the adoption of a child. We will ensure that the court hears your side of the story. Consent issues, child protective services, stepparent and stepchild issues, and ages of children, will all affect the court's determination.

To get legal assistance with an adoption, contact an attorney at  Kenneth Kirk & Associates. We counsel people throughout Alaska, including clients in the Matanuska Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley.