Domestic Adoption

Domestic adoption is the adoption of a child born in the United States. My representation covers everything from start to finish — preparation and filing of all required paperwork, unlimited communication between you and me throughout the process, and my appearance and representation at your adoption hearing.

Before a child can be placed in your home, you'll need a home study completed by a licensed social worker. I always encourage families to get this started as early as possible — even before you've matched with a birth mother. It's one of the most common sources of delay, and getting ahead of it can make a real difference in your timeline.

Grandparent & Stepparent Adoption

The legal process for a grandparent or stepparent to adopt a child is very similar to a standard domestic adoption, with one key difference: a home study is not required. You will need the consent of both biological parents to move forward.

In a stepparent adoption specifically, one biological parent retains their parental rights — only the other parent's rights are addressed. This is an important distinction that affects how the case is structured and what consents are needed.

Interstate Adoption

An interstate adoption involves adopting a child who was born in a different state. The adoption hearing can take place in either the birth state or the adoptive parents' home state. Because I am licensed only in Arkansas, I represent Arkansas families looking to adopt a child born in another state.

The legal process is similar to a domestic adoption, but with a significant additional layer of paperwork — the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, known as the ICPC. The ICPC is an agreement enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that establishes procedures for placing children across state lines and ensures they receive the same protections and services they would have received in their home state.

Before your child can come to Arkansas, both the sending and receiving states must review and approve all required ICPC paperwork. This process adds time to the adoption, and it's important to have an attorney who knows what to expect and how to keep things moving.

Readoption

Readoption is the process of formally recognizing a foreign adoption through the Arkansas court system. While a foreign adoption decree is legally valid in Arkansas — meaning your child is already legally yours without any further action — there are several practical reasons families choose to readopt.

First, the Arkansas Vital Records office requires an Arkansas adoption decree to issue a new birth certificate. Without one, your child will not have a U.S. birth certificate listing you as the parent.

Second, depending on your child's birth country, their name may not appear correctly on foreign adoption documents. Since those documents are used by federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, errors can create unnecessary hurdles when enrolling your child in school or applying for a U.S. passport. Readoption is the proper legal avenue to correct your child's name on the record.

Finally, readoption gives you a U.S. court record of your child's legal status. If your foreign decree is ever lost or damaged, obtaining a new copy from your local courthouse is far simpler than navigating a foreign government's records system.

Adult Adoption

In Arkansas, adults can adopt other adults. The most common situation is a longtime stepparent who wishes to formally adopt an adult stepchild — formalizing a relationship that has existed for years but was never legally recognized.

Adult adoption does not require a home study. The only parties required to consent are the adult being adopted and, if they are married, their spouse. The process is relatively straightforward and can be a meaningful way to make an existing family bond legally official.