Guardianship of a Minor Guardianship of a minor (under 18) is a legal option that differs in many respects from guardianship of an adult disabled adult child who has turned 18 or guardianship of a person incapacitated by disability or dementia. Judges will want to insure that the impact and effect of a [...]
Petitioning for Guardianship of an Incapacitated Person The process can be completed in 60 days but can take longer. The petitioner files a petition to appoint guardian along with a notice to the person who is alleged to be incapacitated and a proposed order appointing guardian ad litem. The Court appoints a court [...]
Probate Attorney Vancouver WA When someone passes away, they may leave behind property and debts. Often, a spouse, a son, a daughter, or friend manages these final tasks and helps to distribute their estate. Is a Court Needed for Probate? Sometimes this can be done without a court process. Where court action is [...]
Termination of Parental Rights of Birth Parent Before a minor child can be adopted, that child must be “legally free” from the legal rights and the parental status of the birth parents. Termination of parental rights can take place either voluntarily or involuntarily. Consent to Termination of Parental Rights Usually, private placement adoptions, [...]
Consent to Adoption Relinquishment and Consent to Adoption Relinquishment means consent in the adoption context. The adoption statute has a procedure for parents to voluntarily relinquish (consent to) placing their children for adoption. The petition to relinquish a child may be filed separately or filed as a consolidated petition (one document) joining the [...]
Birth Father's Rights in Adoption Birth Father’s Rights and Responsibilities If a birth father is unknown or is unwilling to sign a consent to adoption and termination of his parental rights, a summons and petition for the termination of his parental rights must be filed and notice given to terminate his rights on [...]
International Adoptions Re-adoption of children adopted in foreign countriesA re-adoption is the process of “re-adopting” a child in the United States after the child has been adopted in another country. In Washington, a re-adoption is a request to the Washington Superior Court to formally recognize the validity of a foreign adoption decree and grant [...]
Foster Child Adoption A child can be adopted from state foster care by private persons. In these cases, the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services has custody of the child through a Juvenile Court dependency proceeding. When the child is “legally free” because the rights of the biological parents have [...]