St. Louis, Missouri, Adoption Attorney
Are you a step-parent who wants to formally adopt your spouse's child?
Are you a grandparent or other relative who is taking care of young children because the child's parents can't or won't take care of them?
Is your grandchild, niece, or nephew counting on you to raise them?
Every family and each situation is different. Adoption attorney Kathleen Shaul can provide the information and the caring legal advice you need to make the best decisions for your family.
Experienced Adoption and Guardianship Lawyer
Adoption attorney Kathleen Shaul has handled adoption and guardianship cases for more than 14 years. She can help you understand and navigate the legal adoption process. Through adoption you can establish all of the legal rights and obligations which exist in a biological parent-child relationship: including the child's rights to financial support and inheritance.
Stepparent Adoption- In most cases, a stepparent adoption is not difficult if the non-custodial biological parent consents to the adoption.
Grandparent Adoption- Adoption is not the only choice for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Grandparents may be able to get legal guardianship of their grandchildren when the biological parents are unable or unwilling to parent their children.
Inter-Family Adoptions- Kathleen Shaul is aware of the strong interfamilial bonds which make family members want to take care of children in their extended family. In order for a grandparent, or other relative, to adopt a child both parents must agree to give up their parental rights and consent to the adoption.
Kathleen Shaul truly cares about her clients and is passionate about protecting children's interests. She will guide you through the adoption process, including the home study, drafting and filing the Petition for Adoption, and representing you at all adoption court hearings.
Guardianship
Attorney Shaul can also assist you with establishing a legal guardianship for a child or a disabled adult. Unlike adoption, guardianships are not permanent arrangements and end when the child turns 18. Kathleen can evaluate your unique situation and help you weigh the benefits and disadvantages of obtaining guardianship as opposed to adoption.
Grandparents' Rights to Visitation
In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the rights of grandparents to visit with their grandchildren. If the child's parents are alive and do not want the grandparent to see the children, the courts will not order visitation. In other circumstances, grandparents do have visitation rights, which may be affected by adoption of their grandchild by someone who is not a blood relative.
The Law Offices of Kathleen E. Shaul, P.C. invites family members who have concerns about adoption and guardianship matters to contact our St. Louis office and arrange an initial appointment.
