ADOPTION

Most family law attorneys enjoy adoptions more than anything else that they do. There is no other area of law where everybody is happy after the hearing. An adoption usually signals a time when a less than perfect situation for the child is replaced by one which is much better.

Nevertheless, adoptions, if something goes wrong, can be heartbreaking. You might have seen cases in the news where a family adopts a child only to find out later that the adoption is not valid because of a procedural problem. Adoptions can be complicated and often must be done after a parent's rights to a child have been terminated.

In addition, there are numerous safeguards in place to prevent an adoption into an unhealthy atmosphere. While these safeguards are important, they also make adoptions more complicated and risky. You need an attorney who is well familiar with the termination and adoption process and who can help to guide you through this most important period.

Bob Leonard especially likes adoption law. He was the author of the Abandoned Baby Bill passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Bush on June 19, 1999. For more information on the bill that has been credited with saving the lives of many Texas babies, read here.