Adoptions & Guardianships

• Consent of Biological Parent: Biological parents, even if they were not married, must consent (or be found by the court to be “unfit parent”) to the adoption of their children by the other parent’s new spouse or other relative. When one parent has disappeared, the other parent must prove to the court that he or she has tried to locate the missing parent and is a fit person to parent the child or children. Our law firm can help with this aspect of family adoption.
• Guardian ad litem: Once the other parent has consented to the adoption (or cannot be found), the court will appoint a guardian ad litem to conduct a home visit and other evaluations to verify that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the child. Our lawyers can assist with the selection of a guardian ad litem.
• Stepparent Custody: Our firm also helps stepparents or other relatives who are seeking custody or visitation of a stepchild or children after the death or disability of the custodial parent. Obtaining custody of a spouse’s child requires that certain conditions be met. Our attorneys advise clients about these requirements.
• Guardianship: An alternative that is often less expensive to custody is guardianship. Grandparents and other relatives can obtain guardianship of their grandchildren when parents are unable to care for their children because of illness, incarceration, substance abuse or other circumstances. This allows a grandparent to enroll the children in school, put them on an employer’s health care plan and make decisions about medical treatment.

Contact our Oak Forest adoption attorneys for a free 30-minute consultation. Call us at 708-381-5426 to learn how we can help with adoption or guardianship. We serve communities such as Midlothian, Orland Park and Crestwood.