Long Island Adoption Attorney
Guiding families through adoption.
As a full-service family law firm, Simonetti & Associates provides services to adults who wish to adopt children. Most of this work entails helping stepparents formalize their relationship with a spouse’s offspring to build greater unity in a blended family. But we also help couples finalize agency or private adoptions. Adding to your family should be an occasion for joy. With more than 35 years of experience, Simonetti & Associates gives you peace of mind, knowing that your adoption has been finalized and is legally valid.
What kinds of adoptions are available in New York?
Adoption is the legal process by which a person becomes a lawful member of a family different from the birth family. From the moment the adoption is finalized, the adoptive parent has all the rights and responsibilities a natural parent would. Therefore, making good choices at every stage of the adoption process is imperative. Simonetti & Associates assists with different types of adoptions, which prospective parents choose according to their circumstances and preferences:
- Agency adoption: Agencies perform the tasks of finding a birth mother who wants to give up her child for adoption, finding a compatible adoptive family, and then terminating the birth mother’s and father’s parental rights. Thus, there is generally no prior relationship between the adoptive family and the child in an agency adoption.
- Private adoption: The adoptive family personally seeks an expectant mother who plans to give up her child for adoption. The adoptive family may pay the birth mother’s medical and other bills or expenses and, in consultation with an adoption attorney, make arrangements that an agency would otherwise handle.
- Domestic adoption: This is an adoption of a child residing in the United States.
- International adoption: This is an adoption of a child from outside the United States. Different nations have different laws about whether foreign nationals can remove children through adoption.
- Stepparent adoption: This most common type of adoption occurs when a parent’s spouse, who is not the child’s biological parent, adopts the child. The child’s noncustodial biological parent, if still living, must consent. If the biological parent refuses, the adoption cannot take place unless the court terminates the biological parent’s rights. Once the stepparent adoption is complete, the noncustodial parent loses all rights to the child, including custody and visitation.
- Third-party adoption: This occurs when the adoptive family is not in any way related to the child.To finalize any New York state adoption, you must petition the court for approval. Consult an experienced family law attorney to ensure your petition is properly ordered.
To finalize any New York state adoption, you must petition the court for approval. Consult an experienced family law attorney to ensure your petition is properly ordered.
Areas Of Practice
- Adoption
- Alimony
- Child Custody
- Child Custody Modification
- Child Support
- Collaborative Law
- Complex Divorce
- Divorce
- Equitable Distribution of Assets
- Fathers’ Rights
- Martial Property
- Mediation
- Orders Of Protection
- Pre/Postnuptial Agreements
- Relocation
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Same-Sex Divorce
- Separation Agreements
- Uncontested Divorce
- Visitation
Contact our Long Island adoption attorneys for a free consultation.
If you are thinking about adopting or need help with a pending adoption, contact Simonetti & Associates today. We offer flexible scheduling and a location in Nassau County, New York, which is convenient for you and close to Huntington, Massapequa, and Hicksville. Our attorneys always return calls, even outside of regular business hours. Call today at 877-385-2560 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation.
Our Recent Adoption Blogs
Helping You Through The Stepparent Adoption Process
How Can Our Nassau County Divorce Lawyer Help You? Marrying a spouse that already has children can be an enriching experience. Getting to raise your stepchildren is a fulfilling experience that few others can match. However, to make it even more fulfilling, many stepparents consider adopting their stepchildren. At Simonetti & Associates, our team is […]
Read MoreDo I Need An Attorney To Adopt?
Starting a family is a wonderful time in many people’s lives. When you are unable to do so naturally, adoption is always a route to consider. At Simonetti & Associates, we are well versed in navigating clients through this process. If you’re interested in learning more about adoption and why the help of our Nassau […]
Read MoreAgency Vs. Private Adoption
How Can Our Long Island Family Lawyer Help You In Your Adoption Process? Are you and your spouse interested in starting a family, but conceiving a child isn’t an option? If you fall into this category, our team at Simonetti & Associates highly recommends thinking about adoption. This process allows a child to find a […]
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No matter who you fall in love with, you should be able to start a family whenever you’d like. Luckily, in New York State, same-sex couples have the same adoptive rights as traditional male/female couples. This adoption process in New York offers an equal opportunity to all people. However, any adoption process can be long […]
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Same-Sex Adoption Rulings In The United States From 2016 and on, same-sex adoption became legal in all 50 states. Despite the fact that equality in the adoption system is mandated, some states make it more difficult than others. If you are thinking about going through the process of same-sex adoption, speak with an attorney first. […]
Read MoreThe challenges a same-sex couple may have regarding adoption
Are you and your spouse a same-sex couple looking to adopt a child? If so, Simonetti & Associates are there to help. As the best adoption lawyers on Long Island, we can help you with any questions regarding adoption that you might have. Adoption can be a long process, and adopting as a same-sex couple […]
Read MoreHelping You Through the Step Parent Adoption Process
Are you a stepparent looking to go through the stepparent adoption process? Our Nassau County divorce lawyer team can help you and guide you through this process successfully! There is a lot that goes behind this process. The stepparent and legal guardian must meet certain requirements in order to be approved for adoption. Our services […]
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Have you been doing some research on adoption? That’s great! There’s a lot to know. In your searches, you may have come across agency and private adoption and wondered, “what’s the difference?” We’re here to help and hopefully take you one step closer to adopting a new member to your family. Private Adoption Private adoption […]
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Simonetti & Associates Law Firm in Nassau County is known for working with Same-Sex Adoption. Some people believe that a child needs both a mother and father to raise them, but for many, gender does not matter when it comes to parenting. For 29 years Simonetti & Associates has had family law experience in Long […]
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Are you considering adopting a child? Adoption is a great way to help orphaned children, especially for adults who would like to be parents yet can not have their own child. The ideal adoptive parent is someone who is patient, giving, and financially stable. The adoptive parent must also be able to provide a safe […]
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The process of adoption can be a long and grueling one, however, it is always worth the outcome. Adopting is supposed to be a joyous event for all involved, and the fact that the process can be such a headache is a shame. There are many steps that are involved in adoption and Simonetti and […]
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The decision to adopt a child is a big one and when finding an adoption lawyer on Long Island there are many things that go into it, including potential legal issues and paperwork. This is why it is a great idea to retain an excellent and highly skilled family attorney. You will not only […]
Read MoreSame-Sex Adoption
Simonetti & Associates, located in Woodbury, New York, has served Long Islanders since 1990 with more than 70 years of combined experience in handling family law matters. We are a team of compassionate attorneys who understand how delicate your time is and are on call to fit your needs by maintaining flexible office hours in […]
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