Adoption gives a child new legal parents. This also means there is no longer a legal relationship between the child and its birth parent(s).
Adoption Lawyers in Glasgow & Edinburgh
Adoption transforms lives and builds families. It is the legal process by which an adopter becomes a child’s legal parent; it is a significant step for the child and for the adoptive parents. Understandably, it is a rigorous process and one that requires emotional support and experienced legal advice. At Gibson Kerr, our family lawyers understand this process. We can guide you through the proceedings and represent you effectively in the court procedure. Our clients are important to us. We endeavour to support you step by step and make sure there are no unnecessary difficulties for you or the child.
We understand that not every case is the same. For some families, a child will have been placed with a couple, or a single person, by an adoption agency or local authority and the application will be seeking to formalise the adoptive placement.
For other families, a step parent may wish to adopt their step child when they have their partner’s support. These cases require considered advice. For some families this will be an appropriate step, perhaps where a birth parent does not take an active interest in the child. In other cases, for example where the other birth parent is still very much involved with the child, adoption may not be the most appropriate course of action. So it is important to seek expert legal advice as there may be alternative orders which can be considered.
Some families may be caring for children in an informal kinship care arrangement due to the birth parents being unable to care for their children. There are legal orders that may be helpful here too, such as orders for parental rights and responsibilities.
Our family lawyers are experienced in assisting adoptive parents, step parents and carers in obtaining adoption orders, orders for parental rights and responsibilities and related orders to safeguard children. We can guide you through the legal process and help you choose the best option for you and your family. Get in touch with Gibson Kerr who are expert adoption lawyers and here to help.
