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| Matching and Placement
Services |
| Identified,
Interstate, Stepparent, Grandparent & Family Adoption Services |
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| If you have established a strong and loving bond as a stepparent and you wish to give that relationship legal status, you may wish to pursue a stepparent adoption. Shorstein and Kelly have over 25 years experience working to build families through stepparent adoptions. Through the process of stepparent adoption you will become the child’s legal parent and, as such, some of the goals you will accomplish include: |
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You will
have the right to give your surname to the child; |
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You will
have the right to participate in all major decisions
regarding the child including what happens if you and/or
your spouse become incapacitated during the child’s
minority; |
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You and
your spouse will assume sole legal responsibility for
the welfare of the child; |
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You will
be listed as the child’s parent on his or her birth
certificate. |
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- FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
- AFFORDABLE FLAT FEES AVAILABLE
- ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS
- EXPEDITED COMPLETION PROCESS FOR
STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS – (Uncontested only)
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| COMPLEXITIES OF ADOPTION |
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In Florida, there are four types of adoptions: the entity adoption (or agency or attorney facilitated adoption), the stepparent adoption, the close relative adoption and the adult adoption. While some rules apply to all adoptions, each type has unique procedures and requirements, which must be strictly adhered to in order for the adoption to be finalized by a judge.
For all adoptions, the Court must receive clear and convincing evidence to show that facts exist to terminate the parental rights of the biological parent(s). Such evidence would normally consist of a properly executed consent for adoption (or Irrevocable Affidavit of Non-Paternity) or evidence that the biological parent has been abandoned the child or otherwise failed to protect their parental rights under Florida law. There are many requirements that an unmarried biological father must meet in order to protect his rights. If all of the requirements are not met in a timely manner, his ability to challenge the adoption is compromised. We have vast experience handling cases in which non-custodial biological parents have unsuccessfully attempted to challenge the adoption.
The time frame for completing an adoption differs for each type of adoption in Florida. In the case of an entity adoption (usually involving newborns), the adoptive parents are legally required to wait to finalize their adoption until at least 90 days after placement of the child in their home and 30 days after the judgment has been entered terminating the parental rights of the biological parents. The actual time frame for completing entity adoptions varies widely from three to twelve months depending on a variety of factors.
On the other hand, in stepparent adoptions, close relative adoptions, and adult adoptions, the adoptive parents are eligible to immediately finalize their adoption by filing a joint petition for termination of parental rights and adoption. Because no
home-study is required for these types of adoptions, the Courts allow the adoptive parents to finalize the adoption as soon as the paperwork is complete. |
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| Shorstein
& Kelly Affiliations |
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Both Michael A. Shorstein & Brian T. Kelly are active members of the prestigious
American Academy of Adoption
Attorneys. The AAAA is an association of attorneys, judges, and law professors in the United States and Canada who are dedicated to the highest standards of practice in the field of adoption law. Membership is by invitation only from the Board of Trustees based on criteria for excellence in the practice of adoption. |
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Our firm has achieved the highest possible rating (“AV”) from
LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, a national independent service that rates law firms throughout the country. |
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| The
Offices of Shorstein & Kelly Attorneys at Law, P.A. |
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| Home
Office: 3821
Atlantic Boulevard - Jacksonville, Florida |
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| OFFERING
ADOPTION SERVICES STATEWIDE
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| Offices
in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach
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The
hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be
based solely upon advertisements.
Before you decide, ask
us to
send you free written information about our qualifications and
experience. |
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Shorstein & Kelly, Attorneys At Law publishes this website for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal advice, and one should not act upon any such information without seeking professional counsel. Use of and access to this website does not create an attorney-client or any other relationship between the user or browser and
Shorstein & Kelly. Please do not send us any confidential information unless a formal attorney-client relationship has been established.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Shorstein & Kelly,
Attorneys At Law are licensed to practice in the state of Florida.
Shorstein & Kelly is not associated with any linked entity described in this
website. We have attempted to provide users of this website access to other websites of possible interest by installing hyperlinks to such sites. We cannot be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any of the information that may be accessed from this website.
Shorstein & Kelly makes no endorsement of the views or opinion stated in linked websites. |
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| Copyright ©
2010 Shorstein & Kelly Attorneys At Law, P.A.
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