Adoption and Guardianships Robert M. Cooper and Robert P. Coleman practice in the area of adoptions and are certified as Guardian Ad Litems in Prince William County: Robert M. Cooper, Jr. has over twenty years of experience in family law. Robert P. Coleman has over five years of experience in family law. Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is a stepparent adoption? A: A stepparent adoption involves a married or remarried parent legally adopting the child of his/her new spouse by marriage. A stepparent adoption formalizes and legitimizes the status of the minor child with regard to the new parent. A formalized adoption terminates all rights with regard to the biological birth parent who must consent to the adoption (if alive) or must be given formal notice of the adoption proceeding. Adoptions must be filed in the Circuit Court of the county in which the children and adopting parents reside. These adoptions generally do not require formal investigation from the Department of Social Services, but certain circumstances may warrant investigation on a case-by-case basis. Q: How long does it take to finalize an adoption? A: There are four basic types of adoption proceedings in Virginia, stepparent adoptions, direct-placement adoption, agency adoptions, and adult adoptions. Generally stepparent adoptions require the least amount of time to be reviewed and finalized by the Circuit Court of competent jurisdiction. Agency and direct-placement adoptions may take as long as one to two years to be completely finalized due to the amount of procedural requirements that must be met to ensure that all proper notices are given to all participants to the proceeding. Each case involves a different set of facts, so please consult with Mr. Cooper or Mr. Coleman for more information. Q: How may I obtain copies of birth certificates for filing my adoption? A: Visit the Virginia Department of Health web page at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/
Telephone: (703) 361-8246     Facsimile: (703) 361-4171     E-Mail: sbpc@manassaslaw.com Copyright © 2008 Stephens, Boatwright, Primeau, Cooper & Coleman, P.C. All rights reserved.