Adoption Procedures in Oklahoma: Legal Steps for Prospective Parents

If you are adding to your family through adoption or if you are starting a family through adoption in Oklahoma, understanding the requirements to be successful and the steps you must take are critical. There are many requirements to adopt in Oklahoma. For assistance with the process, you are welcome to call an Oklahoma City family law attorney at Putnam Law Office.

Understanding Oklahoma Adoption

There are certain eligibility criteria that you must meet even to start the adoption process, including:

• You must be 21 years of age or older.
• You must be healthy.
• You must have the emotional and mental ability to care for a child.
• You must live in a home with enough space for a child to reside.
• You must be financially sound enough to afford a child.
• You must pass a home study, during which you will be assessed to determine whether you can meet the child’s needs and nurture and raise the child.

Each Oklahoma adoption case is unique, and outside of the above basic qualifications, there are other legal processes to work through before an adoption is complete. For this reason, having an attorney helping you can make a big difference as you navigate everything.

If you can meet all of the criteria above, then you can identify a private adoption agency or a state system to apply for adoption. Whether you are married or not will not impact your ability to be an adoptive parent. Your attorney can help you find which means of adoption will work best for you. As you prepare, you should gather your financial and health records and be ready to be interviewed and assessed.

When you have found the child who fits your family best and you have met all the criteria to be allowed to adopt, then it is time to make things legal. You will have to have the legal and parental rights of the birth parents terminated. You will also have to determine what the most appropriate arrangement is between yourself and the biological parents as you work through the adoption process and then once it has been completed. This aspect of adoption can be challenging, and figuring out the right way to handle things can be stressful, but your attorney can help you understand your options and assist you in securing an optimal agreement.

When all arrangements have been made, and the adoption has been successful, you will have to finalize legal documents and file them with the court. This is the last step. Once this has been done, you will be able to start your life together with your child as their legal parent and have full parental rights.

Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today

Successfully adopting a child can be rewarding and emotional. The process, though, can be complicated, which is why having an attorney to help you plan and prepare for each step is critical.

For help with an Oklahoma adoption, please call the Putnam Law Office to schedule a free consultation at 405-724-7701 with an experienced attorney.