Syracuse Adoption Attorney

Adoptions can be private, or through an agency. Often, adoptions are by a birth mother and new husband, or the birth mother and the father figure in the child or children’s life. You do not have to be married to successfully adopt. In these types of adoptions, the birth mother is actually the adoptive mother as well.

We can help you organize and begin the adoption process, regardless of your situation.  The office and staff of Diana G. Cunningham, Attorney at Law are well equipped and familiar with all different types of adoption, including:

• Stepparent adoption
• Grandparent adoption
• International adoption
• And many others.

When the child is coming into this state from another state, there are different laws and procedures that apply.  This is the same as when a child is leaving this state to go to an adoptive home in another state.  Let us assist you in understanding these particular laws.

When an adoption is through an agency, the agency often handles the portion of the process where the birth mother and father give up their rights to the child. Privately, it is necessary for the adoptive parents to do that, whether it involves the birth mother as the adoptive mother, or whether the birth mother is giving up her rights.

• There are such things as “open” adoptions as well. This would be where one or both of the birth parents may have some level of right to contact the child, or the adoptive parents would obligate themselves to, perhaps, merely send pictures on a designated basis.

• Also, situations exist where a birth parent may actually be given visitation rights, in the best interests of the child. These adoptions are more common than they used to be, so it is worthy to note that there are occasions where this type of scenario may allow an adoption to go forward where it may not otherwise.

From beginning to end, the process will take several weeks, and is not something that happens overnight. The legislature and Courts have gone to a great extent to protect children in adoptions, to make certain the children will be safe and well cared for in their new adoptive homes.

Contact us to further discuss your individual adoption needs.  From case to case, adoptions can be so different that it is difficult to give an overview, but we hope this has provided some useful information for you.  Together we can discuss the details of your specific case.

Adoptions are, without any question, the most wonderful action in which to be involved.
We thank you for considering us to be involved in this happy event, and for considering adoption.

Lawyer Diana G. Cunningham confidently represents clients in a variety of family law, real estate and other legal matters in Syracuse, NY, the cities of Auburn, Oswego, Cortland Cayuga, the counties of Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Cortland, Oswego, and all of the surrounding areas.

Diana G. Cunningham
913 State Tower Building
109 South Warren Street
Syracuse, New York 13202
Phone: (315) 472-8655
Fax: (315) 472-5800
Email