FAMILY ISSUES | Adoption and Guardianship

McCormick and Boyd Law Firm firmly believes that children should receive every chance in life to become well-adjusted and capable members of society, and sometimes that means someone other than their parents will have to assume the obligation to nurture them and give them every chance they deserve to grow and thrive in every respect.

Consequently, McCormick and Boyd Law Firm works closely with spiritual and secular advisors to advise those who want to assume parental obligations for children whose parents are no longer able or willing to give them the love and support they need and deserve.

What’s the difference between adoption and guardianship?

In an adoption, the birth parents’ parental rights are terminated and the adoptive parents assume all the parental obligations for the children just as if they were the birth parents. In a guardianship, the birth parents retain their parental rights and obligations but the guardians temporarily assume some or all of the responsibilities for the children.

Although certain legal procedures must be followed before an adoption or guardianship can be approved, an adoption is much more complicated and takes longer to accomplish. Which of these would be appropriate will depend on the particular circumstances of each case.

What to do before seeking legal advice about an adoption or guardianship

Before seeking legal advice about an adoption or guardianship, you should gather the following information:

  1. Name(s), age(s) and other identifying information of the child(ren)
  2. Name(s), age(s) and other identifying information of the birth or current custodial parent(s)
  3. Why you want to adopt or assume the guardianship of the child(ren)
  4. The name(s) of any other advisors you have talked to about this matter