Category Archives: Adoption
Five Important Steps When Adopting A Stepchild
Adopting a stepchild is a blessing, and this type of adoption is one of the most common in Pennsylvania, and throughout the country. Although extending your family is a joyous time, there are many laws that govern stepchild adoption, and they can potentially make the process complex. Below, our Media adoption lawyer explains these… Read More »
Who Can Adopt A Child In Pennsylvania?
Adopting a child to expand a family is a very joyous time for the whole family. While the process is emotional for everyone involved, it is also a legal process and there are certain requirements on who can adopt in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the Keystone State has some of the least restrictive requirements on adoption… Read More »
International Adoption: A Primer For Pennsylvania Residents
In recent years, celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have called national attention to adopting children from foreign countries. For many Americans, including the 10 percent of women who have trouble conceiving, adoption is a viable method of circumventing the biological means of becoming a parent. People choose to adopt a child… Read More »
Types of Adoption: What Pennsylvania Residents Should Know
Choosing to adopt a child is one of the most significant decisions an individual or family will ever make. Once the decision has been made, couples soon realize that the adoption landscape in the United States can be harder to navigate than anticipated. For this reason, couples typically choose to elicit the counsel of… Read More »
Adopting in Pennsylvania: What Prospective Parents Need to Know
There are many reasons that someone would want to adopt a child. Perhaps a biological parent has remarried, and their spouse wants to be officially listed as a parent instead of a stepparent on official legal documents. Perhaps a professional social services worker has formed a protective bond with a troubled child and wants… Read More »
The Number of Foster Care Adoptions Hits a Record High
A report from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that the number of foster care children being adopted has reached a record high. The number comes from 2018, which is the most recent year with complete data. The study shows that over 63,000 foster care children were adopted in 2018, an increase of nearly 25%… Read More »
Challenges with Open Adoption
One of the more exciting developments in adoption over the past 30 years has been the rise of so-called “open” adoptions. Historically, mothers who gave up their children for adoption never saw them again. The adoptive family also did not disclose to their children that they were adopted until the child reached adulthood, if… Read More »
Are You Ready to Adopt? 5 Key Questions
Choosing to adopt a child is a momentous decision. However, adoption does not always go smoothly. Couples who are considering adoption should put the necessary thought into the decision before contacting an adoption agency. At Barbara Flum Stein & Associates, our Media adoption attorneys have helped many men and women become parents or add… Read More »
Questions to Ask a Birth Mother
In many adoptions, potential adoptive parents meet with the birth mother to talk. This is definitely an interview, no matter how casual the encounter, and prospective adoptive parents should prepare accordingly. At Barbara Flum Stein & Associates, we have facilitated many adoptions. No two are alike, and not all adoptive parents will meet with… Read More »
Adopting a Special Needs Child in Pennsylvania
Parents who have decided to adopt a special needs child from foster care should be aware of certain adoption assistance programs available to them. In addition to the federal Title IV-E Adoption Assistance program, Pennsylvania has its own statewide assistance program as well. These assistance programs can benefit your family and your child, so… Read More »
