Arlington, Texas Adoption Lawyer
Focused on building families
Adopting a child brings happiness to families, but a biological parent’s change of heart or an immigration issue can turn a celebration into a nightmare. Attorney Donna J. Smiedt handles the complex legal procedures and frustrating red tape of the adoption process so you can focus on your new family member. Ms. Smiedt has 25 years of experience successfully handling such issues as:
Adopting a child brings happiness to families, but a biological parent’s change of heart or an immigration issue can turn a celebration into a nightmare. Attorney Donna J. Smiedt handles the complex legal procedures and frustrating red tape of the adoption process so you can focus on your new family member. Ms. Smiedt has 25 years of experience successfully handling such issues as:
- Termination of parental rights
- Paternity registry
- Open adoptions
- Closed adoptions
- Private adoptions
- Domestic adoptions
- International adoptions
- Step-parent adoptions
Termination of parental rights
Stories abound about birth parents challenging an adoption after it is finalized. These well-publicized news accounts reflect a real fear for adoptive parents. The suffering associated with a badly-handled adoption affects everybody involved — the adoptive parents, the birth parents and the children who are caught in the middle. Donna J. Smiedt ensures that both the birth and adoptive parents’ rights are respected so that the end result is a final adoption that cannot be challenged. Ms. Smiedt substantiates that the birth parents consent to the adoption freely and voluntarily and so avoids claims of fraud, duress and coercion that can be grounds for restoring a birth parent’s rights.
Paternity registry
The biological father has the same rights as the biological mother to decide whether to voluntarily terminate parental rights. Texas laws seek to balance the father’s rights with the well-being of the child through a paternity registry. The process prevents the unsettling disruption of a child’s life caused by a father’s parental claims after the adoption’s finalization. A man who knows — or believes — he is the father of a child can apply to the putative father registry to receive notices of judicial proceedings related to the child, including those associated with the adoption process. Ms. Smiedt takes all necessary steps to confirm that the father provides consent or that no father is registered with the database.
Types of adoption
An open adoption agreement permits the biological family to maintain a relationship with the child. The terms of the agreement are established by written contract and can include any level of involvement ranging from regular visits to yearly snapshots exchanged by mail. A closed adoption protects the identity of the biological parents and the child, but may include disclosure of essential information such as the child’s heritage and medical history. Whichever type of adoption you choose; Ms. Smiedt meticulously drafts a contract that reflects the terms of your adoption.
International adoptions
International adoptions present unique challenges. Also called inter-country adoptions, the process involves a complex web of laws and policies, including Texas, U.S., U.S. immigration, the child’s country of birth and the Hague Adoption Convention. Ms. Smiedt remains by your side through every step to avoid potential problems and smooth the process. Her goal is to help you bring your child home as soon as legally possible.
Contact a Texas adoption attorney helping you build your family
Call Donna J. Smiedt at 817.422.5214 or contact the firm online to schedule an appointment.
Stories abound about birth parents challenging an adoption after it is finalized. These well-publicized news accounts reflect a real fear for adoptive parents. The suffering associated with a badly-handled adoption affects everybody involved — the adoptive parents, the birth parents and the children who are caught in the middle. Donna J. Smiedt ensures that both the birth and adoptive parents’ rights are respected so that the end result is a final adoption that cannot be challenged. Ms. Smiedt substantiates that the birth parents consent to the adoption freely and voluntarily and so avoids claims of fraud, duress and coercion that can be grounds for restoring a birth parent’s rights.
Paternity registry
The biological father has the same rights as the biological mother to decide whether to voluntarily terminate parental rights. Texas laws seek to balance the father’s rights with the well-being of the child through a paternity registry. The process prevents the unsettling disruption of a child’s life caused by a father’s parental claims after the adoption’s finalization. A man who knows — or believes — he is the father of a child can apply to the putative father registry to receive notices of judicial proceedings related to the child, including those associated with the adoption process. Ms. Smiedt takes all necessary steps to confirm that the father provides consent or that no father is registered with the database.
Types of adoption
An open adoption agreement permits the biological family to maintain a relationship with the child. The terms of the agreement are established by written contract and can include any level of involvement ranging from regular visits to yearly snapshots exchanged by mail. A closed adoption protects the identity of the biological parents and the child, but may include disclosure of essential information such as the child’s heritage and medical history. Whichever type of adoption you choose; Ms. Smiedt meticulously drafts a contract that reflects the terms of your adoption.
International adoptions
International adoptions present unique challenges. Also called inter-country adoptions, the process involves a complex web of laws and policies, including Texas, U.S., U.S. immigration, the child’s country of birth and the Hague Adoption Convention. Ms. Smiedt remains by your side through every step to avoid potential problems and smooth the process. Her goal is to help you bring your child home as soon as legally possible.
Contact a Texas adoption attorney helping you build your family
Call Donna J. Smiedt at 817.422.5214 or contact the firm online to schedule an appointment.
Donna J. Smiedt is conveniently located in Arlington, and serves Texas clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Tarrant, Dallas, Parker, Collin, Johnson, Wise and Ellis counties.
Practice Areas
Our Office
6208 West Poly Webb Road
Arlington, TX 76016
Phone: 817-422-5214
Fax: 817-572-7679
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
View Map
Arlington, TX 76016
Phone: 817-422-5214
Fax: 817-572-7679
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
View Map
