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Public Agency Adoptions

Public Agency Adoptions

Thousands of children in the United States are waiting to be adopted. These children have entered the dependency system after they were relinquished by their families or removed by the court. Public adoption, whether by family members or foster parents, is an option when reunification with a child’s parent is not possible and the court finds adoption to be in the child’s best interest.

At Petrelli Previtera, our lawyers assist adoptive parents with adoptions through both the foster care system and the public interest system, as well as through private adoptions.

How Do Public Agency Adoptions Work?

Funded by local, state, and federal sources, public adoption agencies facilitate the adoption of children from foster care. These agencies sometimes arrange meetings between prospective adoptive parents and social workers and/or supervisors, or they work through a placement committee to match children with the right family.

After the parents choose an avenue of adoption, they will select an agency to match them with a child. The agency will then perform a home study to evaluate the adoptive parents’ home environment and help them prepare for their child’s arrival. There may be a waiting period based on the family and child’s individual circumstances, after which the agency will work with the parents to finalize the adoption.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Adoption should be an exciting time for everyone involved. While adoptive parents are not required to have a lawyer, getting the right legal help can ensure a smooth procedure from start to finish.

When assisting with public agency adoptions, our attorneys can help families adopt children from the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) database. We can also facilitate contact with the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) and various foster care agencies.  Our attorneys are able to guide parents through the following steps and more:

  • Filing an initial petition for adoption
  • Completing a home study
  • Obtaining clearances
  • Completing various required reports

Our team knows the ins and outs of state law regarding adoption, and we can answer any questions parents have.

Contact Our Experienced Adoption Lawyers for Assistance

Petrelli Previtera offers parents confidential consultations about adoption. During our meeting, we will discuss your family’s needs and wishes and come up with the best course of action.

To get started, call 866-465-5395 to schedule an appointment.

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Client Testimonials

They are amazing! I highly recommend anyone that is in need of assistance with child support hearings to seek out the expertise and experience of this law firm and staff! They handled my case quickly and I feel that my money was put to good use. Much appreciated! Nothing less than five stars!

Alana Deverson

I just want to say GREAT JOB! She is a no nonsense professional with years of experience that qualifies her as a skilled Family Law attorney. She is seasoned, sensitive, and most of all she cares. She made things easy for me. Definitely recommend!

Kimberly Colby

Overall I was pleased with the results of my divorce case. The entire Petrelli Previtera team truly cares about their clients. Luckily for me, I was paired up with an amazing team helping all the way. If you happen to work with this firm and with the lawyers you’ll be in great hands. It was such an excellent service and it was beyond I expected.

A Family Law Client Chevy Chase , MD

Serving Clients at the Following Locations

Philadelphia1845 Walnut Street 19th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103(215) 523-6900view details
Montgomery County516 DeKalb Street Suite C Norristown, PA 19401(610) 924-2870view details
Doylestown123 N Broad Street, Doylestown, PA 18901(267) 938-4480view details
Abington1147 Easton Road, Abington PA 19001(610) 890-4833view details
West Chester203 W. Chestnut St., Suite 204
West Chester, PA. 19380
(610) 431-4012view details
Princeton475 Wall St, Suite 214, Princeton, NJ 08540(609) 917 9560view details
Linwood210 New Road #15 Linwood, NJ 08221(609) 375-0351view details
Parsippany8 Campus Dr, Parsippany, NJ 07054(973) 310-5320view details
Covington1148 Washington St SW, Covington, GA 30014(678) 730-6310view details
Bethesda4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200 Bethesda MD 20814(301) 234-7409view details
Maryland5425 Wisconsin Ave Chevy Chase, MD 20815(301) 889-8085view details
ChicagoTwo Prudential Plaza 180 North Stetson Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60601(312) 252-2085view details
Schaumburg1750 E. Golf Rd, Suite 382 Schaumburg, IL 60173(630) 491-9670view details
Texas500 W 2nd St Suite 1900 Austin, TX 78701(512) 883-1684view details
Washington DC1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington DC 20006(202) 519-0366view details
Denver7900 E. Union Ave. Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237(720) 821-6440view details