Adopting as a Single Parent in Pennsylvania

Considerations for Single-Parent Adoption in Pennsylvania

Is it possible to adopt a child as a single person in Pennsylvania, and does it make the process more complicated or difficult? What are the things you should consider before adopting as a single parent? Is the legal framework different for single people?

Adoption Requirements

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, nearly a third of the adoptions of children from foster care nationally during 2011 were completed by people who were not married. More than 13,000 single women and 1,400 hundred single adopted children in the United States that year. In Pennsylvania, there are no legal requirements that mandate that a person must be part of a couple in order to pursue an adoption. The only required first step is that you are at least 21 years of age.

Types of Adoption in Pennsylvania

Since there are no legal restrictions on adoption tied to relationship status, single people can pursue the same options that are available to couples, including foster care, international and domestic adoptions. The state of Pennsylvania offers resources to facilitate adoptions. The Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange maintains a database of children who need a family and people who’ve been approved to adopt.

Adoptions of children from other countries implicate the rules and regulations of the other country as well as those that apply to adopting a child in Pennsylvania. Some countries might have laws prohibiting adoption by single people. A PA adoption attorney might be able to explain the applicable rules and laws.

Considerations for Single-Parent Adoptions

Regardless of the specific adoption type, single parents should follow some advice as they approach the process. First, it’s important to have a support system in place that consists of family and friends. Raising a child is among the most stressful and potentially overwhelming tasks in which a person can undertake even with the presence of a partner. If you are interested in pursuing a single-parent adoption in PA, it’s best to think about upon whom you can rely and let friends and family know you might need their support when you get stressed out or have to be in a few places at once.

With regard to your support system, ask yourself:

  • Do you have people you would feel comfortable calling on for help and accepting help from?
  • What do your friends and family think about your decision to parent on your own?
  • Who will come to your home to help when you or your child gets sick?
  • Do you know people who live nearby who could provide help, if necessary, at a moment’s notice?
  • Is there someone upon whom you can rely and trust to give you a break overnight or for the weekend?

The second piece of advice regarding adoption for single parents is to not worry about the negative ideas of others if you encounter them. Some people may have long-standing prejudices that prevent them from seeing how important and positive single-parent adoption can be. When the child is old enough to understand, sit down with him or her and discuss the many different ways in which a happy family might be formed. Third, make an emergency plan. It is the primary job of a parent to be prepared for things like financial necessities, sickness or injury.

Choosing to Adopt

The decision to adopt a child is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Even in two-parent households, both individuals are scarcely able to find the time to protect, care for and raise their children while also working and managing their own mental, physical and emotional requirements. Single parents may have to work harder to prove stability and financial responsibility to birth parents and adoption agencies as well.

For single people who are interested in adopting, a PA adoption attorney might be able to help by communicating with officials on their behalf or drafting and filing necessary documents. Please contact our Philadelphia office at (215) 563-2150 for more information about adoption in Pennsylvania.

Adopting With an Agency in New Jersey

Understanding the New Jersey Adoption Process

Many parents are eager to adopt in New Jersey as the state has a reputation for being friendly to the adoption process. In fact, people have traveled from outside the state in order to finalize their adoption in New Jersey because state law tends to be inclusive while favoring adoption when it is in the best interests of the child. Since the child’s interests are paramount in a New Jersey adoption case, the system aims to protect finalized family arrangements that will not be subject to ongoing disruption over time.

Working With an Adoption Agency

State law gives strong support to adoptive parents who work with an adoption agency. State-approved adoption agencies are now under clear supervision and monitoring. Due to this regulation, individuals who work with these agencies can benefit from a streamlined process that can help them finalize an adoption relatively quickly and smoothly.

The birth mother should sign over her parental rights to the child at least 72 hours after the birth of the baby. That 72-hour period provides time to make sure that her decision was made in a clear state of mind without the pressure imposed by labor and childbirth. If the surrender of parental rights is signed in the proper time period with a state-approved agency, it is considered an irrevocable consent to adoption, and there is no additional waiting period under state law.

Parents should always make sure that they are working with a state-approved and -licensed adoption agency in good standing. The strong regulations that exist today are in place due to serious abuses that have taken place in past years that separated birth parents from their children without true consent. Even today, birth mothers can contest an agency adoption but only if they can prove:

  • Duress
  • Fraud
  • Misrepresentation

Working with a legitimate adoption agency can help protect both adoptive and birth parents. A New Jersey adoption lawyer can provide guidance throughout the process to make sure that everything is proceeding according to plan. Adoptive parents who are considering an international adoption should also make sure that the agency they work with is accredited by the Hague Convention.

What About Birth Fathers?

In New Jersey, birth mothers are not required by law to identify the father of their child. However, adoption agencies are required to act diligently to identify the biological father of the baby being placed for adoption. If the agency identifies the father, it must notify him of his rights and seek his consent for the adoption. The birth father has a right to file an objection when he receives this notice because his rights to the child are equal to those of the birth mother. On the other hand, the birth father can also respond by signing a voluntary surrender of his rights.

If the agency does not receive a response to its notification or is unable to find the biological father, he must affirmatively act to assert his parental rights in order to legally protect them. The birth father has 120 days after the child’s birth to attempt to establish paternity or amend the birth certificate to add his name. If he does not act and never responds, the adoptive parents do not need to continue to serve the birth father as they proceed with their complaint for adoption. In this situation, an identified birth father can have his parental rights terminated by his inaction in the first four months after the child’s birth, and there is no need to pursue additional termination proceedings.

If the birth father is unidentified, the situation can be more complex. However, the court can terminate the rights of an unknown birth father during the adoption process as well. A New Jersey adoption attorney can advise adoptive parents about how an unidentified birth father could affect the process.

Filing a Complaint for Adoption

A New Jersey adoption lawyer can help adoptive parents file their complaint for adoption according to the timelines provided under state law. Experienced NJ adoption attorneys can work with parents to achieve a successful outcome and welcome their new child to their family. Potential adoptive parents can contact attorney Donald C. Cofsky for experienced adoption advice and representation as he has a track record of helping over 1,500 families grow. Call our office in Haddonfield at (856) 429-5005 or our office in Woodbury at (856) 845-2555 to set up a consultation.

Challenges Facing Those Who Want to Adopt

A New Jersey Adoption Attorney Can Help You

Many couples dream of adopting a child. There are many different types of adoptions in New Jersey. In 2012, 1,023 children were adopted from foster care. Some adoption cases are stepparent adoptions in which the adopting parent has already formed a relationship with the child. The legal process for an adoption is similar whether the adoption is for a stepchild or if the adoption involves an agency.

In many cases, the biological parent consents to the adoption. In a case that involves an agency, the parent may have been contemplating the prospect of adoption for a long time but may still change his or her mind after the birth of the child. In a stepparent adoption, a biological parent may revoke his or her consent or appeal the adoption decree if he or she does so within the time frame required by law.

How Does Consent to Adoption Work in New Jersey?

In some cases, a biological parent may sign a consent form allowing his or her parental rights to be terminated and for an adoption case to proceed without further notice to him or her. However, even after the consent forms are signed, the parent may be able to revoke his or her consent before the final decree is entered.

A parent may argue that the consent is invalid because the paperwork was signed on the basis of fraud, duress, or coercion. For example, if the parent was given the paperwork to sign but wasn’t allowed sufficient time to read it or was told that the purpose of his or her signature was different than consent to an adoption, he or she may be able to argue that they didn’t understand what they were signing and weren’t given a meaningful opportunity to consider it. If he or she was ordered to sign the paperwork pursuant to a threat of bodily injury to himself or herself or another person, then this is another reason that the consent could be declared invalid. For example, if a person threatened to harm the child if the parent didn’t sign a consent form, then the biological parent may be able to argue that he or she signed it due to duress, threats, or coercion.

What Can I Expect in a Contested Adoption Hearing?

In some cases, the natural parent of a child is unfit to care for the child but will not consent to an adoption. The petitioner who wants the adoption to go forward will need to present proof to the court that the parent is unfit and that his or her rights should be terminated. The petitioner will also need to prove that the adoption is in the child’s best interests. A court will consider factors related to the parent’s relationship with the child, such as how often the parent has had contact with the child, whether or not he or she has provided child support, and other factors related to the parent’s fitness to raise the child. If the child is old enough to testify about his or her wishes to be adopted, then a judge may wish to hear from the child.

What if an Adoption is Appealed?

If a biological parent opposes an adoption and thinks the court made the wrong decision, he or she may file an appeal. If a petition for adoption is denied, then a petitioner may also file an appeal to ask a court of appeals to reconsider the issues decided by the trial court. There’s only a limited amount of time to file an appeal after a final decree is entered, and only a party to the case may file an appeal. A court of appeals will generally only consider information that was presented at the trial court level and usually will not overturn a judge’s decision made below unless there was a clear error. To file an appeal, a notice of appeal must be filed at the trial court level and a transcript must be ordered from the court reporter.

Judges are often reluctant to terminate parental rights unless there’s clear evidence that it’s in the child’s best interests, such as abandonment, abuse, neglect, or severe and recurring substance abuse issues. A petitioner who’s going to court for a contested adoption case should expect to present as much testimony as possible through witnesses and other evidence that the adoption is in the child’s best interests.

What Should I Do if I Have Questions About Adoption in New Jersey?

If you have questions about adoption, then contact Cofsky & Zeidman and speak with a New Jersey adoption attorney. Our adoption attorney can help guide you through the process and explain what you can expect at each stage of the proceeding. Contact our office today by calling (856)429-5005 to schedule a consultation.

Children Hope for a Loving and Stable Family to Foster/Adopt Them

Families Who Foster/Adopt Kids Provide a Dream Come True

Children are placed under state custody for several reasons, but this is never the fault of the child. One of the major dilemmas in the world today is that some biological parents fail to provide for or protect their children, and in many cases, reunification is never achieved. When this happens, parental rights are terminated, and the child or children are typically made available for adoption.

Who Is Capable of Fostering a Child?

It takes an open, committed and loving family to share their home with a foster child. For whatever reason a child is in state custody, there are undoubtedly circumstances that put them in the foster care system that were completely out of the child’s control. The emotional or physical needs of a child in foster care may be varied. It is important that foster children receive care, nurturing and supervision in an emotionally stable and safe home environment.

Potential foster parents must be at least 21 years of age and able to pass an extensive background check. In fact, one of the first parts of the process requires a state and federal criminal background check and child abuse clearance on everyone in the home who is age 18 and older. To obtain these clearances, a one-time full set of fingerprints is needed along with an approval certification from each state registry where an applicant has lived over the past five years.

What Else Is Necessary to Become Licensed to Foster?

  • A current physical and tuberculosis test
  • A safety check of the home
  • A completed home study
  • Financial stability but not abundant wealth
  • References from non-family members
  • Completed parental training

A home study is conducted by a social worker who outlines the strengths of the family applying to become a foster or adoptive home. A social worker can also be the perfect resource to assist families in identifying their strengths and then help to match them with a child who is waiting for a foster/adopt home.

Children living within the foster care system may be considered an emotional special needs adoption because of abuse and neglect they have endured. Some of the children in foster care have physical disabilities or suffer from birth defects or illness. The needs of children can vary as much as their personalities do, but all children want and deserve to be loved.

What Is Irrelevant and Not a Condition of Foster Care Licensing?

  • Marital status
  • Owning or renting a home
  • Gender and sexual orientation

Thousands of children across the country are hoping for a forever family that they can call their own. By nature, children have an inherent capacity to trust adults to do what is in their best interest. This is exactly the approach the family court systems across the country take when it comes to any child who is eligible for special needs adoption. When abuse or neglect have broken a child’s ability to trust, he or she may be adversely affected by physical and emotional scars. It is possible with proper care, nurturing and a loving environment that a child can heal from the scars and lead a full and productive life. Foster parents and adoptive parents have an opportunity to influence the lives of children in a meaningful way.

For more information and some adoption tips, contact a PA adoption lawyer who can guide you when it comes to the ins and outs of adoption.

If you are considering adopting a child who needs a forever family, please contact Donald C. Cofsky at the main office in Haddonfield, New Jersey, at (856) 429-5005; in the Woodbury, New Jersey, office at (856) 845-2555; or in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office at (215) 563-2150.

International Adoptions in New Jersey

The New Jersey Resident’s Guide to International Adoption

In 2016, more than 5,000 children were adopted by American families from countries outside the United States. If you live in the Garden State, a New Jersey adoption attorney may be able to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about whether international adoption is the right path for you. Your adoption lawyer can also help you choose the right adoption agency and fill out all the necessary legal work that completing an adoption within the state of New Jersey entails.

Adoption Requirements in Your Child’s Country of Birth

Agencies in New Jersey do not have the authority to control adoption procedures in the country where your child was born. All they can do is match you with a child through a foreign agency. That agency must file the legal papers that are necessary to obtain custody of that child. If feasible, arrange for the adoption procedure to take place within that country, and obtain a passport and visa for the child so that he or she can enter the U.S. legally.

The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is a treaty that provides some measure of protection for any dealings you may have with foreign adoption agencies. Try to work with a foreign agency that is accredited or otherwise authorized to provide adoption services in connection with the Hague Convention.
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Adoption Form (REG-44)

Once your new son or daughter is in the U.S., a New Jersey adoption attorney can assist you with the remaining legal requirements. One of the most important of these involves filing adoption form (REG-44) with the New Jersey Vital Records Office. The form must be certified in a New Jersey family court.

New Jersey Adoption Requirements

In order for the adoption to be finalized in the state of New Jersey, at least one of the adoptive parents must be a U.S. citizen and a legal resident of New Jersey at the time when the adoption paperwork is filed. In addition to the adoption form referenced above, you will need to provide the Vital Records Office with the following:

  • Proof of the child’s immigration status: This can be done by either filing the child’s green card, providing a copy of the I-551 stamp on the child’s foreign passport or supplying documentation of the child’s U.S. citizenship.
  • Proof of your New Jersey residency: This can be done with a current utility bill with your address on it, a driver’s license or a voter registration card.
  • A certified copy of the foreign birth certificate and a certified English translation
  • A certified copy of the foreign adoption decree and a certified English translation
  • A check or money order in the amount of $2 payable to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey
  • A completed copy of adoption form (REG-44)

Should You Readopt Your Child in the U.S.?

Courts in New Jersey will recognize the adoption of a child in a foreign court and issue a U.S. birth certificate upon request. There are still reasons why it may be wise to readopt your child in a U.S. jurisdiction, however. Many other states do require a readoption process before they will issue a birth certificate. Should you and your family move to a different state, this could complicate matters for you in the future, particularly if issues like divorce, custody disputes, child support or the distribution of survivors’ benefits arise. Your New Jersey adoption lawyer can give you the advice you need to make the decision that is right for you and your family here.

If you’re a resident of the Garden State who’s considering an international adoption, it’s important to work with an experienced family law attorney. Contact Cofsky & Zeidman in Haddonfield at (856) 429-5005 or in Woodbury at (856) 845-2555 to set up a consultation with a New Jersey adoption attorney who understands everything this complex process involves.

New Jersey Joins Other States In Regulating Gestational Carrier Arrangements for Family Formation

On May 30, 2018 Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey signed into law the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act. This new law will protect all parties involved in a gestational carrier arrangement, including the gestational carrier, the intended parents, and most importantly, any child resulting from such an arrangement. These agreements will now be enforceable and all parties will know each one’s obligations. The Act mirrors the N.J. Adoption Statute in that it permits payment of expenses related to the arrangement including reasonable living expenses as allowed under the Adoption Statute. It does not provide for separate compensation.

There are a number of mandatory requirements in order to avail oneself of the protections of the Act. The major ones include the requirement that a gestational carrier must be at least 21 years old, have had at least one child, and that the parties must receive counseling as to the effect of being involved in such an arrangement. All parties must be represented by separate attorneys.

If all requirements have been fulfilled, the intended parents can apply to the court for a pre-birth order naming them as the legal parents of any child resulting from the arrangement. It is extremely important since once the order is issued the intended parents will be responsible for that child regardless of any change in their relationship and regardless of any issues which may arise involving the child. This certainly is in everyone’s best interest. The other aspect of the Act cures an issue that was the basis of the case which I argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court almost six years ago. In that case a pre-birth order under the current case law had been requested for a husband and wife where the sperm of the husband was used to create an embryo with an egg from an anonymous donor. The embryo was transferred to a gestational carrier with the understanding of all parties that the wife would go on the birth certificate as the child’s mother. A split decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court resulted in the requirement that both of the intended parents must be genetically related to the child in order to have any type of pre-birth order issued. That meant that the intended mother would be required to file for a stepparent adoption.

It was as a result of this unfair treatment of infertile women that the legislature addressed this issue. The New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act was passed twice by the legislature since then, but vetoed twice by Governor Christie. It has now passed a third time and has been signed into law by Governor Murphy. The Act will now apply to children without a requirement that both intended parents be genetically related to the child. This is a great advancement for family formation in New Jersey, and simply regulates that which has already been occurring in this state. Several of my colleagues who are members of both the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and the New Jersey Academy of Adoption Attorneys worked with the legislature in drafting the bill to correct this issue.

Contact Our Office

To set up an appointment with an NJ adoption lawyer or a PA adoption lawyer, contact the law office of Cofsky & Zeidman today. You can call our office in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150.

Access to Paid and Unpaid Leave As an Adopting Parent

Unpaid and Paid Leave When Adopting

Many new parents have access to paid leave through federal or state family and medical leave benefits or benefits provided to them as part of their employment contracts or packages. More than 91 percent of all the U.S. employers that are obligated or opt-in to provide paid leave for new parents indicate that it has had a positive effect on morale and turnover as well as no negative effect on employee absenteeism. Nevertheless, many adoptive parents-to-be have concerns with how they fit in.

The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is a labor law that obligates employers of a certain size to provide workers leave for family-related reasons and to guarantee that their jobs will still be available when they return. Such leave is unpaid by default. Employees can access benefits, such as accrued sick time. States are also allowed to add paid requirements via their own family and medical leave benefits, which cannot contradict but add to the federal FMLA. Those on family leave may also have access to other federal and state benefits, and many employers provide additional benefits as part of their employment packages. Note that family leave covers not only pregnancies but adoptions as well, and without caveats.

Note that state family and medical leave benefits vary from one state to the next. Pennsylvania does not have a state FMLA. New Jersey does and even permits up to 12 months of paid leave for parents who choose to adopt.
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Being Up Front With Your Employer

After you have consulted with a PA adoption lawyer and decided to adopt, it is generally advised that you inform your employer. You don’t want them to feel blindsided down the line. How you approach this situation likely depends on the size of the company for which you work, and you should adhere to the advice and any legal representation that you have secured. With small businesses, it is generally best to let the owner know, and with corporations, you generally want to inform your direct boss as well as the HR department depending on the rules and regulations.

What to Do When a Company Denies Leave

It is generally advised that you discuss applying for family leave with a PA adoption lawyer in advance of informing your employer and officially requesting leave. The advice an attorney provides you can be integral to a successful request. In the event of a denial, your recourse depends on it. If an employer is within its rights to deny the leave, then you may have no recourse. Some companies provide an appeal process. If an appeal fails or is not an option, then a lawyer can assist you with escalating the complaint, such as going to the Department of Labor.

When Seeking Employment

The FMLA generally provides less protection to you as a new employee who has been employed for less than 12 months. You may still be entitled to leave but have less access to benefits. You should be up front with an employer. By law, your choosing to adopt cannot be a reason not to hire you. If you have the option to wait a year, it may be in your best interest to do so and then broach the topic of the adoption with your employer. However, if the process is already underway and you became unemployed or this is a dream position for you, then it behooves you to be honest with your employer concerning your adoption plan.

Here as Your Advocate

If you want to adopt a child or already have and are facing subsequent challenges, the law firm of Cofsky & Zeidman is here to assist you. Our focus is on adoptions in PA, and we have helped many clients navigate the process. You can contact us online or call us at your earliest convenience. You can reach our office in Philadelphia at (215) 563-2150.

Adoptees’ Rights to View Their Original NJ Birth Records

Adopted people in New Jersey might want to learn about their birth families but may be unsure of how they can access the information they need. State law allows them to access their original birth certificates.

How New Jersey Adoptees Can Learn About Their Birth Parents

New Jersey adoptees may wonder about their birth families and potential blood relatives. They may be curious about their family histories, ancestry and genetic medical records, and finding their birth family can help answer a lot of questions. A state law that went into effect in 2017 allows adoptees to request their original birth certificates.

New Jersey Laws on Adoptees’ Birth Records

In New Jersey, state laws give adoptees rights to access some types of information about their birth records and biological parents. In the past, these requests were not always possible or easy. The state government enacted laws that sealed the original birth certificates of children who were adopted on November 19, 1940, or any time thereafter. In order to access their birth records, adoptees had to apply for a court order that may or may not have been granted. This meant that many adoptees were left with unanswered questions about their origins and ancestry.

Changes to the Law

In 2014, the vital records law was amended to allow now-adult adoptees to obtain non-certified copies of their original birth certificates. There are a few things that you should know about how you can access your original birth records under New Jersey adoption law. You can contact our NJ adoption attorney for more information about the process.

Who Can Obtain an Original Birth Certificate

There are several categories of people who are entitled, under New Jersey state law, to receive a copy of the Birthoriginal birth certificate of the adoptee. These are all people who are directly linked to the adoptee. Those who can access original birth certificates include:

  • The adult adoptee himself or herself
  • The adoptee’s direct descendants
  • The sibling or spouse of the adoptee
  • The adoptive parent, legal guardian or other representative of the adoptee
  • Any New Jersey state agency or federal government department for purposes related to their official conduct

While a number of individuals have a right to access formerly sealed birth records, this right does not belong to the public in general. There is no public access provided to adoptees’ original birth certificates.

Applying for a Birth Certificate Copy

If you fit into one of the named categories listed above, you can formally request from the state a copy of the original birth certificate of an adoptee. You can complete the request form from the state and mail it to the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (OVSR). Birth certificates must be requested via mail and cannot be obtained in person.

In addition to the form itself, applicants must also submit proof of their identity, proof of their relationship to the adoptee, any records of a name change and payment of the required fee.

Birth Parents’ Privacy Rights

After the 2014 changes were signed into law by then-Governor Chris Christie, birth parents were given until December 31, 2016, to submit any requests to redact information from the record. If the redaction request was not filed by that date, it was not accepted by the state.

New Jersey adoption laws allow birth parents to provide contact preferences to the state registrar. The parents can say whether they prefer direct contact, contact through an intermediary or no contact at this time, although these preferences do not create a binding obligation. In order to submit a contact preference, birth parents must also submit a Family History Information form that provides additional medical history as well as social and cultural information.

Birth parents who previously requested that their information be redacted prior to the 2016 deadline but have since changed their minds can contact the state to change their preferences.

Adoption can raise a number of questions for adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents navigating the emotional and legal frameworks of New Jersey adoption law. To set up an appointment with our NJ adoption attorney, reach out to the law office of Cofsky & Zeidman. Donald J. Cofsky has years of experience representing families in adoption matters. You can call our office in Haddonfield at (856) 429-5005 or in Woodbury at (856) 845-2555 to set up a consultation.

The Advantages of Open Adoption

The popularity of open adoption is a relatively recent phenomenon. There are many reasons why this option may be the right one for your family.

Why Open Adoption Could Be the Right Choice for You

It’s estimated that between 60 and 70 percent of all adoptions in the U.S. today are open adoptions. If you’re considering an open adoption in the Garden State, consulting with an experienced NJ adoption lawyer can be a useful first step.

What Is Open Adoption?

An open adoption is an adoption in which a biological parent maintains some sort of relationship with the family who adopted his or her biological child. The nature of that contact can vary. In some instances, the adoptive family may send the biological parent an occasional photo and an update while in other situations, the biological parent may be encouraged to visit and spend time with the child.

A closed adoption, on the other hand, is one in which the adoption records are sealed, and no identifying information is passed between adoptive and biological parents. Thirty states, however, have set up mutual consent registries allowing children who were adopted through a closed adoption procedure to seek information about their biological parents once they come of age so long as the biological parents agree.

The Birthright Act

In January of 2017, the Adoptees’ Birthright Act went into effect in New Jersey. This law unsealed the birth records of 300,000 individuals who were born in New Jersey and later adopted both within and outside the Garden State. The adoptees can petition to receive uncertified copies of their birth certificates, which will give them access to their birth name and to the time, date and place of their birth. Unless their biological parents specifically petitioned to redact the information before December 31, 2016, adoptees will also have access to the names of their birth parents. Birth mothers and fathers have leeway, however, over the degree of subsequent contact they wish to have with any child who was given up for adoption.

New Jersey Adoption Laws

New Jersey Statutes Title 9, Sections 3-37 describe the legal requirements for adopting a minor child in the Garden State. Title 2A, Section 22-1 stipulates the requirements for the adoption of an adult.

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Any individual who is 18 years of age or older can adopt a child in New Jersey. While many adoptions are independent arrangements that are brokered directly between biological parents and adoptive parents, others are mediated through agencies.

There are two types of adoption agencies in New Jersey: public and private. Both are licensed by the state and subject to state regulation and scrutiny. Private adoption agencies are frequently affiliated with social service organizations and place children who have been brought to their attention by biological parents. Public adoption agencies, on the other hand, place children who through abandonment or abuse have become wards of the court.

What Are the Benefits of Open Adoption?

The prospect of an open adoption can be frightening to adoptive parents. Will their adopted child see them as parents, they may wonder? Will the biological parents ever be able to reassert a claim to the child? Nevertheless, there are many advantages to the open adoption model.

  • Medical and genetic information: Increasingly, medical science is discovering that many chronic health conditions have genetic components. When adoption records are sealed, it can be difficult to get access to medical information that could help determine the most effective treatment strategies for a sick child.
  • Self-esteem: Without reassurance from a biological parent, an adopted child can grow up believing that he or she was placed for adoption because of some horrible flaw. Such children can grow up with a sense of abandonment that can be very destructive to their self-esteem. Learning from a biological parent about the circumstances that led up to the adoption can go a long way toward bolstering a child’s self-confidence.
  • Less uncertainty: What people don’t know is often scarier than what people do know. Where there’s an open channel of communication between adoptive parents and biological parents, adoptive parents are less likely to question a birth mother’s underlying intentions.

For more information about the adoption process in New Jersey, contact our NJ adoption lawyer at Cofsky & Zeidman today. We can be reached in Haddonfield at (856) 429-5005 or in Woodbury at (856) 845-2555.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Adoption Lawyers

How a New Jersey Adoption Attorney Can Help You

Adopting a child in New Jersey is an involved process that involves training and going through a home study. If you’ve been considering adoption for your family, chances are you have a lot of questions. If this is your first experience with adopting a child in New Jersey, consulting with an adoption lawyer is a good way to see that you get the assistance you need throughout the process.

The Adoption Process

Prospective parents have several options when it comes to adoption. Some parents choose to utilize an adoption agency while others prefer to work directly with the birth mother to facilitate the process. In the state of New Jersey, finding an adoption attorney is quite important.

If you aren’t familiar with the adoption process, our New Jersey adoption lawyer can guide you through the journey. Our lawyer will be able to assist you as you complete your adoption paperwork in order to prepare for your new family member. Your attorney will also be able to answer critical questions that may arise about each stage of adopting a child. This can offer you peace of mind.

If your family has previously been involved with an adoption, an attorney is still a great asset to have on your side. Your attorney will be able to offer you personalized assistance and support as you complete paperwork and approach your child’s adoption day.

Preparing for Adoption

One of the most important aspects of preparing for an adoption is completing your home study. This lets your adoption coordinator or social worker develop an understanding of how your family functions and what your home environment is like. This portion of the adoption process will help determine if your family will be a solid choice for adopting a child. Your attorney can offer you guidance throughout this process. Although the steps for completing a study are clear, keep in mind that sometimes it’s nice to have someone leading you along the way.

Make sure that you and any family members who live with you prepare emotionally for the adoption process. Adopting a child is a journey that can take months or even years, so read books, talk openly with one another, and join a support group if possible to get the emotional companionship you need during this time.

How Your Attorney Can Help

Your family lawyer in New Jersey wants to help you succeed. That’s why your attorney will work with you every step of the way. From the moment you decide to adopt until you’re holding your child in your arms, understand that your lawyer will be rooting for your success.

Attorneys offer a variety of legal services related to adoption. If you’re adopting a child directly from a birth mother, you may wonder about the legal process and the paperwork. It’s important that you understand both your rights and obligations as well as the biological parents’ rights and obligations. Your lawyer can help explain all of this to you as you proceed. Even if you choose to adopt using an agency, your attorney can help ensure you find an office that is legitimate and reliable. Your lawyer will also be able to review contracts and documents and explain any legal jargon you might not be familiar with so that you understand everything.

If you’ve been searching for a way to make adoption a reality, it’s time to meet with the right lawyer. Don’t wait to get the assistance you need on this journey. Adding a beloved child to your family can be an incredible experience, and our office would love to be a part of that. If you’re in Haddonfield or Woodbury, call Cofsky & Zeidman at (856) 429-5005 to speak with our New Jersey adoption lawyer. We’d love to talk with you about your options for bringing your new baby home.

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