Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC’s adoption practice includes domestic private-placement / independent adoptions, private agency adoptions, foster care adoptions, interstate adoptions, stepparent and second parent adoptions, adult adoptions, re-adoptions and registration of foreign adoption decrees. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC also handles contested adoption matters. Our firm represents birth parents in adoption matters and in custody and guardianship proceedings, and assists in the unsealing of adoption records.
- Pre-Certification
- Domestic Private-Placement / Independent Adoptions
- Domestic Agency Adoptions
- Interstate Adoptions
- Foster Care Adoptions
- Stepparent Adoptions
- Second Parent Adoptions
- Adult Adoptions
- Re-adoptions
- Registration of Foreign Adoption Decrees and Name Changes
- Birth Parent Representation
- Unsealing of Adoption Records
- Contested Adoptions
Pre-Certification: As a pre-requisite to Private Placement/Independent Adoption in New York, adoptive parents must be certified as qualified adoptive parents by a Court. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC can assist you with this legal process. This process is New York specific. Pre-certification by a Court is not required in New Jersey.
Domestic Private-Placement/Independent Adoption. This adoption process is where adoptive parents work directly with expectant parents for an adoption plan. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC can assist you with your networking strategy so you can try to meet expectant parents and will be with you every step of the way. Some people call this attorney adoption as attorneys are intricately involved in the process.
Domestic Agency Adoptions. This adoption process is where adoptive parents use the services of an authorized (licensed) agency to assist them with meeting and working with an expectant parent. It is important to choose an agency that you feel comfortable with, is philosophically aligned with you, and who you feel supported by. In New York, Adoptive Parents can only work with agencies authorized by New York State (Authorized Voluntary Adoption Agencies | Adoption Services | Office of Children and Family Services (ny.gov)). Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC represents people for pre-placement legal advice as they consider situations and/or for the adoption finalization.
Interstate Adoptions. Interstate adoptions are adoptions where the expectant parent and the adoptive parent(s) reside in different states. The baby will be born in state A and then will be placed with adoptive parent(s) who reside in state B. Because more than one state is involved, there must be a choice of law as to which state’s law will control the matter, and where the adoption will then be finalized. These are very complicated matters and Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC, has handled these matters for over 30 years. These matters require an incredible attention to detail and knowledge of the interstate process. We will also help receive approval from the Interstate Compact Offices (ICPC) to ensure the adoptive parent(s) can travel back home with the baby.
Foster Care Adoptions. Once a child who is in foster care is freed for adoption, that child can be adopted by his/her foster parent(s). Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC represents foster parents with their adoption matters. We will obtain all the necessary documentation from the foster care agency and then file the documents with the court so that foster parents can become the child’s legal parents. For many foster parents this is the first time they have had an attorney representing them. We are thrilled to be able to provide legal support and guidance to foster parents as they pursue adoption.
Step-parent Adoptions. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC assists step-parents in adopting their step-children. These matters may be contested or uncontested. We will discuss with you what the proceedings will look like. This is the legal way that the child’s step-parent can petition to be the legal parent of the child.
Second Parent Adoptions. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC assists second parents in adopting. In these cases, the adopting parent is not married to the gestating parent, so it is not a “stepparent adoption”. However, the Courts do not require marriage to create a legal relationship.
Adult Adoptions. These are matters where the person being adopted is an adult. Often the adopting parent is the adult adoptee’s long-term step-parent or second parent, or is a significant parental figure in the adult adoptee’s life. Every court is a bit different in their requirements for these types of adoptions.
Re-adoptions. These are matters where the child is adopted internationally and enters the United States on an IR4 or IH4 visa and is provided a permanent resident card. For citizenship, the family must finalize the adoption here in the United States. It is referred to as a re-adoption. The Court will require extensive documents for this process. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC will prepare and file these legal documents. It is extremely important that this process is completed before the child’s 16th birthday. This adoption can also allow a name change as part of the adoption.
Registration of Foreign Adoption Decrees and Name Changes. These are matters where the child is adopted internationally and enters the United States on an IR3 or IH3 Visa, and therefore is granted automatic citizenship. Although these proceedings are not required by the United States government as the child is already a citizen, many families choose to do these proceedings so there is record of the child’s adoption in a United States court, and the child’s records are accessible. Further, a name change can be granted as part of this procedure. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC will prepare and file these documents for you.
Birth Parent Representation. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC represents expectant parents as they consider making an adoption plan. Once they decide to place their baby, we will represent them in fulfilling their adoption plan. We provide thoughtful, kind, supportive representation to the birth parents who are making a difficult choice. If this is an interstate matter, we will also assist with the ICPC processing.
Unsealing of Adoption Records. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC represents adoptees who are trying to obtain medical information that may be in their adoption file. There are strict criteria that have to be met. Unsealing can only be done for good cause, which is mostly defined as medical reason. It has to be a documented medical reason. We do note that in New York and New Jersey, adult adoptees can request their original birth certificate, which is a separate process from the Court.
Contested Adoptions. Unfortunately, not all adoptions go smoothly, and an adoption may become contested. This can happen with Agency adoptions, private adoptions, step/second parent adoptions. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel, PLLC has successfully litigated many of these types of cases. We bring our strong litigation skills, as well as compassion during an emotionally challenging time.
View Rosin Steinhagen Mendel’s adoption reported decisions of interest.
Please contact us today to discuss your legal matter with one of our adoption attorneys.
