grandparent adoptions

What Does Grandparent Adoption Mean? Sometimes grandparents step in to raise their grandkids. Maybe the parents can’t take care of the child, or maybe the child has already been living with Grandma and Grandpa for a while. A grandparent adoption is when the court makes you the legal parent of your grandchild. That means you have the same rights as if the child had been born to you. You make the decisions, you handle school and doctors, and no one can come back later and take the child away just because they’re the parent by birth. Why Adoption Instead of Just Guardianship? People ask, “Why can’t I just do guardianship?” Guardianship is like babysitting with permission from the court. It can be changed later if the parents come back and ask. Adoption is permanent. It gives the child a forever home with you. They also get all the legal benefits—like health insurance, inheritance rights, and stability for the future. I've done a lot of grandparent adoptions so that the grandkids can use the grandparents' GI Bill for college. When Can Grandparents Adopt? A court will look at what’s best for the child. Grandparent adoption can usually happen if: The parents agree to it, or their rights are taken away by the court. The child has been living with you and you’re already the one taking care of them. You can show the judge you’re able to give the child a safe, stable home. How the Process Works Here’s the basic roadmap: We talk first. You tell me what’s going on with your family. We check the boxes. Confirm that you have a good case overall. Confirm that background checks and a home study can be waived due to the close family relationship. We handle the parents’ rights. If the parents consent, great. If not, the court will have to step in and waive their consent. This usually is done because they have abandoned the child, or they have failed to communicate with the child for a year, or have failed to support them for a year.

It may be that you have no clue where the parents are located. In that case, dont' worry. You can still do the adoption, but you have to jump through a few more hoops. This usually adds about $700 or so in costs and a couple of months of time to the case. We file the papers. This is where I take over the heavy lifting. We go to court. You’ll stand before a judge, and if all goes well, you’ll leave as the child’s legal parent. We can usually have a final hearing within thirty days of filing the petition. Things to Keep in Mind If the parents don’t agree, the case can take longer. The initial case can be done for a flat fee, but any contested work will be billed hourly. The judge always asks: “What’s best for the child?” Adoption is permanent. Once it’s done, it can’t be undone. It’s a legal process, but I’ll walk you through each step. Why Work With Me? I’ve helped grandparents all over Arkansas adopt their grandkids. I know the paperwork, the judges, and the little details that make a big difference. My job is to make the process as smooth as possible so you can focus on your family.

If the time has come for you to adopt your grandchild, schedule a free, no obligation consultation with Attorney Chuck Buchan by clicking the "Set Appointment" button below.