New Orleans Adoption Lawyers

Let An Adoption Attorney Walk Your Family Through the Adoption Process

Are you wanting to adopt, but not sure the best way to go about it? Or are you experiencing difficulties during the adoption process?

Camille Patti is a New Orleans family law lawyer who handles adoptions for those seeking to grow their families. Every adoption is extremely client-specific and requires a personalized approach. Camille is not only an experienced adoption and family law attorney, she is also a mother and stepmother. Her legal skills, education, and life experiences combine to help her provide her clients with the individualized approach that sensitive, personal situations like adoptions require.

Whether you want to formalize a pre-existing relationship through intrafamily adoption or want to expand your family through private or agency adoption, Camille handles every case with sensitivity, compassion, and professionalism.

What Does New Orleans Require of Parents Who Want to Adopt?

As an experienced New Orleans adoption attorney, Camille Patti has helped parents in New Orleans looking to adopt meet the requirements.

In order to protect adopted children and to set families up for success, the state of Louisiana has set the following qualifications for those looking to adopt:

• The parents must have no more than five children under the age of 18
• They must have adequate bedroom space
• There needs to be proof of income that’s sufficient to care for a child
• The parents must have medical statements that show they are healthy and emotionally stable
• The home must be safe, which includes working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers

However, these are very general requirements. You may not be sure if you qualify, or you may need help meeting these qualifications. If so, the law office of Camille Patti can help.

What are the Steps in the Adoption Process?

Few things in life are a greater joy than being a parent–but that joy comes with a heavy responsibility. Not only are you responsible for another human being, but this responsibility lasts a lifetime.

Taking these important steps will help you make decisions and have things turns out for the best for everyone involved:

Step 1: Make sure you want to adopt a child
Starting a family or adding to your family is a major life decision. Take the time to make sure that it’s the right choice for you and that you would be as excited with an adopted child as a biological one.

Step 2: Choose a New Orleans adoption agency
This is a step that an experienced New Orleans Adoption Attorney like Camille Patti can help with a great deal. This is because there are differences between agencies, including who they advertise to pregnant women, what resources they offer, and what services they provide.

Step 3: Begin the process to adopt a baby in New Orleans
Depending on the agency you choose, you will have to meet specific requirements set out for parents looking to adopt. These can include a home study, questionnaires, background checks, and setting up adoption profiles.

Step 4: Learn what babies are available
Once you have been approved by your agency, you will now have to wait for a child to become available. Soon, you will be able to take your child home with you.

Step 5: Finalize your adoption in New Orleans
Even though you have your child at home, you still need to finish the adoption process. This includes attending a finalization hearing where a judge will review the adoption to make sure everything is legal and ethical before you are given a final decree of adoption.

From beginning to end, New Orleans Adoption Lawyer Camille Patti can help guide you through the process. Camille knows what to expect at each step to help you smoothly navigate the adoption process.

How Much Does Adoption Cost in New Orleans?

Each year, hundreds of families in Louisiana adopt a child. The actual amount parents pay varies from agency to agency, while the Department of Youth and Family Services (DCFS) does not charge fees.

Is Adopting a Child in New Orleans Difficult?

The process of adopting a child into your family can be long and complex, especially in the case of adoptions where there is no pre-existing relationship between the child and adoptive parents.

As seen above, a range of requirements must be met by prospective adoptive families. Knowing what to expect in advance will make you better prepared as you work through each obstacle and meet every challenge on the road to adoption.

Educated Legal Guidance From a New Orleans Adoption Attorney

Camille Patti holds a master’s degree in sociology as well as a juris doctorate, providing her a sophisticated insight into how families work. Combined with her own experiences as a mother and step-parent, her educational background gives her a personal understanding of family law and adoption.

Adoptions are intimate family affairs and important legal matters at the same time, and aspects of both sides bear on every decision. There are many rights and responsibilities to understand and legal paperwork to be completed. Camille Patti offers straightforward counsel and legal guidance to help smooth the adoption process.

New Orleans Adoption Lawyer Camille Patti is your trusted legal advocate and advisor throughout the adoption process and even beyond, if needs arise. She believes in working hard to help families succeed and you will enjoy fast access and reliable guidance at an affordable price.

A Trusted and Affordable Adoption Lawyer in New Orleans

If you are the birth mother and want to provide a loving, caring environment for your child, or if you are a family that wants to provide a safe home for a child, New Orleans Family Law Attorney Camille Patti is a trusted and affordable adoption attorney in New Orleans who can provide invaluable legal assistance with the adoption process.

Due to the personal nature of adoptions, Camille is happy to discuss your specific concerns and requirements in a confidential consultation. She is also happy to share pricing information after determining your unique needs and desires for adoption.