When practicing primarily in the South Carolina Family Court, a majority of what we do involves representing clients in bitterly disputed litigation in which there are no winners, and if children are in any way involved, they are generally the ones who lose out. Adoptions are the exception to this unfortunate reality, and adoption proceedings are some of the most rewarding and gratifying cases that we as attorneys could ever be involved with. Adoptions are generally joyous occasions that expand or complete a family unit and rival childbirth in terms of their celebratory effect.

Tens of thousands of adoptions take place in the United States every year. Adoption generally requires the participation of both the birth mother and biological father of the child, although there are exceptions to this when the circumstances dictate. An adoption attorney represents the prospective adoptive parents, and the Court generally appoints a Guardian ad Litem to protect the child’s best interests. As with any South Carolina Family Court case involving child related issues, the best interest of the child is the predominating factor that a Court will look at when placing a child through the adoption process.

A common form of adoption is when a family member or step parent seeks to adopt a child they are related to by either blood or marriage.

Each State maintains their own adoption laws as well as how the adoption process is administered. In South Carolina, when becoming an adoptive parent, there are certain steps one must take and requirements that must be met for the Court to consider placing a child in the home. For example, one must be at least 21 years of age, be able to show a financial and physical ability to care for the child, and it must be determined that the adoption is in the child’s best interest. Processes, like home studies, personal exams and background checks are often times required to help create the best match between parents and child.

While it is possible to represent yourself in the South Carolina Courts during adoption proceedings, establishing your rights as an adoptive parent can be a confusing and technically difficult process. If you are considering adoption,If you are considering adoption, please contact us today to help assist you and your child on this journey. South Carolina has a Safe Haven law, which allows parents to take their infant (up to 30 days old) to a hospital. We strongly recommend letting us help educate you and guide you to becoming an adoptive parent. If you have any questions or would like to inquire about adopting, please feel free to contact us!

Addison Addison

Addison Dowling Fender

At the Fender Law Firm, my wife Tracy and I are keeping alive the Fender/Dowling tradition of providing honest and effective legal services to our clients.