Helping You Through The Complex International Adoption Process
Many families choose to adopt a child from another country. While adopting a child internationally can be a very exciting time for a family, it can also be a very complex, potentially stressful process. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is work with a lawyer you can trust – one who has experience handling all the complicated details involved with international adoptions.
At Shawn P. Hammond and Associates, attorney Shawn Hammond represents clients in Augusta and throughout Georgia in all types of adoptions, including international adoptions. Although the process might seem daunting, he has helped many families through it in more than 25 years of practice. Shawn will personally walk you through every step and protect your interests as you seek an international adoption.
Challenges In International Adoptions
Shawn can help you manage all the complications involved with an international adoption, including:
- Multiple laws: An international adoption will involve state laws, federal laws and the laws of whatever country from which you are adopting. Shawn understands how to navigate this complex legal landscape to make sure that your adoption goes through as smoothly as possible.
- Immigration issues: Bringing someone else into the United States from outside the country requires dealing with immigration laws. There are numerous ways to approach this issue, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. If your adoption is finalized in another country, one option is to domesticate the adoption here. If you are finalizing the adoption here in the United States, even more stringent requirements will be involved. Shawn can help you determine the best approach.
- Agencies: One area often overlooked in international adoptions is the choice of agencies. There are many international adoption agencies, and not all of them are ethical and careful with how they manage their affairs. Shawn Hammond has more than a decade of experience handling domestic and international adoptions. He can help you find an ethical agency focused on the best interests of your family and the child.
- Ordinary adoption issues: In addition to the issues and challenges unique to international adoptions, parents adopting internationally still have to go through many of the adoption issues faced in domestic adoptions.
Shawn understands the emotions and the challenges you are facing when considering an international adoption, and he will represent your interests with compassion, professionalism and care.
Contact The Firm To Learn More
Shawn Hammond is here to help you and make the process as simple as possible. To discuss your adoption options, call the firm at 706-993-2785 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a consultation.