Top Fairfax, VA Adoption Lawyers Near You

Are you Considering Starting or Expanding Your Family Through Adoption?

If so, this is an important time in your life. When people wish to start or expand their family but are unable to have children on their own, adoption can be a great option. Adoption is the legal process a person or a couple goes through to obtain all rights and responsibilities in caring for a child. While adoption may seem simple, a skilled Fairfax adoption attorney can help you make the right decisions for your family.

Different Types of Adoption

There are many types of adoption and different ways of adopting a child. Whether you choose a closed adoption where you and the birth parent(s) remain confidential or an open adoption where you are in contact with the birth parent(s) will be up to all parties involved. Adoptive parents also have the option of adopting children inside the United States or Internationally. Adopting a child of a different ethnicity is also very common. Many states allow same-sex couples to adopt as well.

How an Attorney Can Help

An attorney can often resolve your particular legal issue faster and better than trying to do it alone. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal system, while avoiding costly mistakes or procedural errors. You should seek out an attorney whose practice focuses on the area of law most relevant to your issue.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

• Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
• It’s important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
• Discuss how the practice’s billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

How to Find the Right Attorney

• Determine the area of law that relates to your issue. Attorneys specialize in specific practice areas around legal issues within the broad field of law.
• Seek out recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues. A successful attorney or practice will typically have many satisfied clients.
• Set up consultation appointments to get a better understanding of your case as well as gauge your comfort level with different attorneys. Find the attorney who is the right fit for your needs.

Common legal terms explained

Pro se – This Latin term refers to representing yourself in court instead of hiring professional legal counsel. Pro se representation can occur in either criminal or civil cases.

Statute – Refers to a law created by a legislative body. For example, the laws enacted by Congress are statutes.

Subject matter jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority to hear the claim based on the specific type of issue brought to the court. For example, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy filings, therefore it does not have the authority to render binding judgment over other types of cases, such as divorce.