North Carolina Attorney For Independent Adoptions
Are You Looking To Adopt A Child Directly From The Birth Parent(s) And Want To Ensure That Your Adoption Is Sound? Do You Have Questions About The Process Of Private Adoption And Are Not Sure Where To Turn? As A Raleigh Adoption Law Firm We Can Help You Build Your Family
- How long do adoptions usually take?
- Every adoption is different; the timelines may vary depending on your case.
- What’s the cost?
- The average cost of a domestic adoption also varies; however, oversights, omissions, mistakes can dramatically increase the cost vs working with an attorney who can help ensure an efficient and successful adoption. Don’t let your money go to waste.
- What do I have to do?
- North Carolina has many boxes to check off as a prospective parent, we can help make sure everything is done correctly and properly the first time.
Adoption is a journey. We’ll be there every step of the way. Let us take care of the paperwork while you take care of the baby.
Why Choose Mills Adoption Law for your Private Adoption Case?
- We Only Handle Adoption – Unlike other general family law practitioners, our firm only handles adoption matters.
- Experienced – Bobby Mills has more than 35 years of experience representing all members of the adoption triad – adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees. He has directed an adoption agency and represented agencies in licensing issues. He has also represented both adoptive parents and birth parents in contested adoptions.
- Free 15-minute Consultation Call – During this call, we will review the details together to see how we can best help you build your family.
- Frequent Speaker at Continuing Education Seminars – Other attorneys have learned family law aspects from us through these seminars. Get your assistance from the source.
- Highly Reviewed & Rated – Highly rated on Google, Excellent 5-star rating on respected legal site AVVO. See some of our client reviews below.
- Bar Certified Specialist of Family Law – There are many rigorous factors in North Carolina to become certified by the Bar. We have taken the time and diligence to meet all these standards.
- No Adoption Is Too Difficult or Complex – This is where our firm’s experience and depth of knowledge come into play. No matter how difficult your situation may seem, we fight for you and pursue your best results with tenacity.
- Caring & Compassionate (truly) – We have a personal connection to adoption matters. We know how nerve-wracking the process can be, and we care about your well-being. You are more than just a legal matter.
- Personalized Attention – We understand and respect that every client’s needs are unique. We treat all our clients with the attention they deserve.
- We Keep You Updated – We know transparency is important to you. We want you to know what’s happening with your case at all points in the process.
Ask a Question,
Describe Your Situation,
Request a Consultation
Call (919) 306-2899 or fill out the short form below. We will usually respond within 1 business day but often do so the same day. Don’t hesitate, your questions are welcome.
We respect your privacy. The information you provide will be used to answer your question or to schedule an appointment if requested.
What Is Private Adoption?
In a private or independent adoption in North Carolina, prospective adoptive parents are advised by an adoption attorney instead of working through an agency.
In most independent adoptions, the adoptive parents take an active role in identifying the birth mother. There are many different methods, which may include networking with their group of friends or peers, advertising, facilitators, and more. Once the birth parents are identified, they give consent directly to the adoptive parents instead of to an agency. When you’re adopting a child from birth, there are things that you can do before the birth in order to make the process easier. When the biological mother is about three months along, you can file paperwork asking the court for a temporary order that goes into effect as soon as the child is born. The document is called a pre-birth order. If you have a pre-birth order, you can take the child from the hospital as soon as the child is born. You may also make decisions regarding the child’s medical needs before the adoption is finalized.
When the birth parents and the adoptive parents agree to the adoption, there’s usually no court hearing. If there are mistakes in the paperwork or the judge has questions about your home study, the court might schedule the hearing. If one of the biological parents objects to the adoption, you might have a contested hearing.
North Carolina law allows birth fathers to give consent for adoption prior to the child being born, but birth mothers must wait until after the child is born to provide their consent.
Talk To Us - Schedule A Consultation
Call (919) 306-2899 or Fill Out the Form
Hiring A Direct Adoption Attorney
Because of the laws governing the process and the complexity of adoptions without an adoption agency, working with an experienced partner in independent and private adoptions is key.
An adoption attorney will help you with a private adoption in North Carolina by:
- Providing an unbiased explanation of methods, strategy, and resources at hand to help you develop a plan
- Explain your rights and the adoption laws in North Carolina, and refer you to resources that can make the process go smoothly
- Assess the risks and costs involved to ensure you are getting the best results
- Review and negotiate adoption agreements to ensure your interests are protected
- Clarify options for post-placement arrangements with the birth parents to make sure your best interests and the best interests of the child are served
Completing the Mandatory Home Study
North Carolina requires prospective adoptive parents (aside from most step-parent adoptions) to have a home study done before adoption. The home study involves multiple visits to your home. The evaluator gathers information about your family history, your health history, and the current makeup of your family. The evaluator talks to each family member about their feelings surrounding the adoption. The home study evaluator writes a report and sends it to the court for the court’s review. If you use an adoption agency for your adoption, they can help you arrange for an appropriate individual to conduct the home study. You must use an approved person or agency. If you adopt independently or if you use an agency, a North Carolina adoption attorney can help you find the appropriate evaluator. They can also help you review the evaluator’s recommendation. If you disagree with any information in the report, your attorney can help you determine how to address the inaccuracies.
Couples who have been married for less than 2 years may be required to have two post-placement visits and reports before the adoption is granted.
The average price of a domestic adoption in America is $32,000 or more. Don’t let your money go to waste. Contact our experienced adoption attorneys to ensure the process of building your family goes smoothly.
Birth Mother Expenses
Adoptive parents are permitted to pay for certain expenses for the mother.
- Medical Expenses
- Counseling
- Legal Expenses
- Living Expenses
- Living expenses (including any actual, reasonable, ordinary living expenses incurred during the pregnancy and the six-week period following delivery.)
Any expenses paid must be itemized on a schedule attached to the Consent to Adoption and on a separate schedule signed by the adoptive parents and filed with the court.
Client Reviews – Mills Adoption Law
Read More ReviewsActual Words our clients have said about us
“exceedingly professional, patient and helpful throughout our working with him,” “made sure we were able to do what we set out to accomplish without any hiccups,” “Mr. Mills went above and beyond to make sure it happened as quickly as it could and in a very positive way,” “I would recommend using Mr. Mills and Mills Adoption Law for anyone who needs help with adoption,” “Got more honest and good information out of Bobby Mills in 15 minutes than anyone else I talked to,” “Mr. Mills has been a wonderful attorney to work with during our interstate adoption in North Carolina,” “He is very accessible,” “Any time we had any questions he answered them immediately,” “His experience is very valuable in what could be an overwhelming process on your own,” “I felt that he always had our interests in mind and answered my texts and emails promptly,” “Bobby Mills has been with us every step of the way with our independent interstate adoption; a confusing and lengthy process that was always made easier with the help of him and his firm,” “I don’t know how my family would have made it through the adoption of our son without his guidance, help, and support.”
Talk To Us - Schedule A Consultation
Call (919) 306-2899 or Fill Out the Form
Adoptive Situations We Help You With
- Adoptions across state lines (ICPC Interstate Compact)
- Independent, Private, Direct Adoption
- LGBTQ+
Our Location
We help build families locally in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. Clients come to us from Apex, Cary, Fayetteville, Durham, Glenwood, Five Points, Six Forks, Wade, North Raleigh, NW Raleigh, Wake County, and all of North Carolina.
What To Do Now:
We welcome your questions and want to understand your situation to help you move forward and achieve the peace of mind that comes with having everything done properly and efficiently. Don’t let everything you’ve worked for just slip away due to a lack of proper planning. Invest the time now to learn your options by speaking with us and making the choices that best protect your interests. Call us for one-on-one assistance at (919) 306-2899 with your questions and a description of your situation, or schedule a consultation. You may also simply fill out the form above on this page. Your form will be directly emailed to our office. You can expect a reply within 1 business day and often within hours of the same day. All information is confidential.