Adoption Timeline: What to Expect in Pennsylvania
If you are entering an adoption or considering it, you no doubt would like the process to go as smoothly and swiftly as possible. Growing your family and bringing a child into your home is a profound experience, and waiting for months can be painful.
Every adoption follows its own path, but the average timeline is about six months to well over a year. An important early step you are well advised to take to keep your case moving steadily forward is to retain an experienced adoption lawyer from Purdy Law in Harrisburg, PA.
The Primary Steps toward Adoption
There are specific steps on the path forward toward adoption. Having a clearer understanding of each can afford you a more accurate picture of how long your case will likely take.
Consulting with a Reputable Adoption Attorney
As mentioned, retaining legal counsel is a critical early step that can expedite the adoption process. Your compassionate adoption lawyer will help you select the right adoption agency for you, which means you can count on working with a reputable agency.
Beginning the Application Process
From here, you’ll begin the application process. This generally means gathering information about your family and background. You may be invited to an adoption orientation session to help you maintain realistic expectations before you complete your application. Your knowledgeable adoption lawyer has the experience and expertise to help ensure your application is thorough, accurate, and completed on time.
Completing the Family Profile
The adoption professional you’re working with will have several meetings with you. These are designed to help you better understand the challenges associated with adoption and to generate a comprehensive profile of your family. This is also referred to as the home study.
Before the matching process can begin, your family must be approved. If you are a single person, the family profile will focus on you; if you are married with children or a single parent, it will focus on your family unit as a whole.
Having the Pre-Placement Visit and Moving on to Placement
Once you’ve been tentatively chosen to adopt, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and spend time with the child in question. This is to help determine whether the proposed match is a good fit and may lead to the child being placed in your home.
From here, you can expect about six months of placement supervision before the adoption is finalized. With a capable adoption lawyer in your corner, you can count on a relatively seamless process.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Harrisburg Adoption Attorney
The resourceful Harrisburg adoption lawyers at Purdy Law recognize how important your case is to your family, and we respect your commitment to the process and to your newest family member. We have earned an enviable reputation for successfully guiding cases like yours toward effective and efficient resolutions, and we’re here for you, too. Learn more by contacting us online or by calling 717-674-2885 today.