Fostering children allows those who have the means to give back in a direct and incredibly meaningful way. If you happen to fall in love with the kids who enter your home—which occurs more often than not—it might be possible to make the arrangement permanent with help from a family law attorney. Here’s what all prospective parents should know about adopting children from the foster care system. 

If You Are Already Fostering the Child 

Unfortunately, just because a child is in the foster care system does not mean they are available for adoption. Before you can adopt a child, the court must officially terminate their biological parents’ rights. Depending on the circumstances, the parents might surrender these rights voluntarily—or they could be revoked by a family law judge. Regardless of how the rights are terminated, though, the child’s foster parents will typically be offered the opportunity to pursue adoption before anyone else. If they wish to proceed, an attorney can help them finalize the arrangement. 

If You Have Found a Waiting Child

In the state of Missouri, it’s possible to adopt a child whose parents’ rights have been terminated without fostering them first; however, you must meet certain minimum requirements. For example, prospective parents must be at least 21 years old and in good physical and mental health. They must also have a stable income, pass a background check, and be willing to partner with the child’s family. 

Navigating the Proceedings 

Regardless of whether you are fostering to adopt or have found a waiting child, the process for finalizing the arrangement is the same. Although unique hurdles can arise along the way, the primary steps include terminating the biological parents’ rights, obtaining adoption consents, filing the petition, and attending a hearing. Fortunately, a lawyer can help you navigate every one of these steps while protecting your rights along the way. Your attorney will complete all necessary documents, file them with the appropriate parties before any critical deadlines have passed, represent you before a family law judge, and help you change the child’s last name, so they are officially part of the family. 

If you want to finalize a foster care adoption in Missouri, turn to the family law team at Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C. in Lake St. Louis. Their knowledgeable attorneys have over 100 years’ worth of combined experience in the legal field. Representing clients throughout St. Charles County, they offer a broad range of legal services. In addition to family law, for example, they practice criminal defense and personal injury matters. To get in touch with a lawyer on their team, call (636) 561-5599 or visit their website.