Idaho Falls Adoption and Guardianship

When the central family unit fails to provide children with the stability and love they need, it may become necessary for others to step in to provide children with a loving, stable environment. As an Idaho Falls family lawyer, we can help you decide which options are available for your situation, and can assist in putting together the best plan to ensure the children are protected and given the best opportunity to succeed. We will make sure to inform you of your options as they apply in Idaho Falls and surround ares, as well as make sure that everything gets squared away so that you can enjoy the rest of your lives with your children

Types of Adoption in Idaho Falls

There are many different types of options available for adoptions in Idaho Falls, and we can help you know which of these options would be best for your situation.

Agency Adoption is where children are placed with an adopted family through a public agency or a private agency licensed or regulated by the state. Public Agencies are usually children that are wards of the state due to abuse or abandonment. Private agencies tend to have children brought in by parents who are voluntarily placing children up for adoption, either after the children are born or while they are still expecting them.

Independent Adoptions do not have an agency involved but usually still have attorneys to take care of the legal paperwork. With Independent adoptions as with all adoption work, it is important to ensure you have an experienced attorney working on your case.

Identified Adoptions are a hybrid of Independent and Agency adoption. The birth mother and adoption parents find each other then have an agency do the rest of the adoption process.

International Adoptions involve children that are citizens of another country. This involves fulfilling adoption requirements of both countries involved.

Other Procedures

Along with helping you determine which type of adoption is right for you, as an Idaho Falls family lawyer there are many other adoption procedures we can handle for you as well. Some of these procedures include drafting a “consent to adoption”, investigation of adoptive parents, and assistance with court procedures and processes.

Whether you adopt independently or from an agency, adoptions can be complex and should be handled by someone with experience and expertise. Our law firm will make sure that the processes run smoothly so you can focus on enjoying your new child.

Minor Guardianships and Conservatorships in Idaho Falls

Guardianship is similar to adoption in that it is a legal judgment involving a child and a person that is not that child’s birth parent. They are different in that although the Guardian has legal responsibility for the child, it does not take away responsibilities from the birth parent. One example is that the birth parent has financial responsibility for their child although the child is legally bound to the Guardian. Like adoptive parents, guardians are responsible for taking care of the childu2019s personal needs.  A Conservatorship goes along with a Guardianship, and is used to assist in managing financial assets. Unlike adoptions, guardianship is not permanent and end when the child turns 18 or under other unique circumstances.

Adult Guardianships and Conservatorships in Idaho Falls

Adult Guardianships are similar to Minors Guardianships in that they grant legal responsibility and authority over a person to a Guardian.  In order to protect the rights of the proposed Adult Ward, the court will appoint a Guardian Ad Litem and a Visitor to investigate the matter and make sure a Guardianship is needed.  Again, a Conservatorship may also be needed to handle the financial aspects of the proposed ward.