Adoptions

St. Charles Adoption Lawyer

Adoption is a great way to give a child a chance for a better life. Although you may be excited to add a child to your family, working through the legal procedures is a necessary step in adoption. At the Law Office of Henry Gerhardt, we have over 35 years of experience zealously representing clients in family law matters.

Private adoption: By consent of the biological parents, a private adoption can streamline the process because there is no adoption agency involved. At the Law Office of Henry Gerhardt, we know the court and statutory requirements, and we will work zealously to represent your needs and proceed in a lawful proper manner. After 48 hours after the birth of the child, my office would have available a Durable Power of Attorney to be signed by the biological parent or parents in front of a Notary Public. This Power of Attorney would give the adoptive parents immediate custody of the child and the ability to obtain medical insurance. In all adoptions, other than stepparent adoptions, a home study is required by the court.

Grandparent adoption: By consent of  both of the biological parents, or if one parent consents and/or neither biological parent consents and there is evidence that the non-consenting parent(s), has or have, for a period of six months immediately prior to filing the petition, either abandoned, neglected, and/or failed to support the minor child, a grandparent's intervention may be necessary to protect the best interests and welfare of the child or children.  With our extensive experience, we are able to assist grandparents in such adoption proceedings.

Step-parent adoption: In a stepparent adoption, the court will waive the need for a home study upon the request of the attorney for the adoptive parents.

Step-parent noncontested adoptions: If the biological parent of your child consents to the adoption by your spouse and you have been married for six months before filing the adoption petition or six months before the Judgment is entered then a stepparent adoption will be available as an uncontested proceeding. The parental rights of the biological parent will be terminated along with that parent's child support obligations. 

Step-parent contested adoptions: The parental rights of a biological parent may be terminated and a Judgment of Adoption granted if the biological parent has, for a period of six months immediately prior to filing the petition, either abandoned, neglected, and/or failed to support the minor child. 

Interstate adoption: We are familiar with the legal requirements of interstate adoptions, specifically compliance with the multi-state adoption laws.  There can be serious legal consequences if the child is brought into the State of Missouri without having complied with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act.

Foreign and international adoption: If you are adopting a child from a foreign country through an international adoption agency or privately, you must be certain that the adoption has complied with the laws of that country and that all the necessary legal documents are translated into English and comply with the requirements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States, i.e. obtain a green card before bringing a child into the United States.

Recognition of foreign decree of adoptions: If you have adopted a child in a foreign country, you will be able to obtain a Missouri amended birth certificate as if the child were born in the State of Missouri pursuant to a Petiton for Recognition of the Foreign Decree of Adoption.   The parents need to comply with the requirements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the United States, including specifically obtaining the necessary "green" card to permit the child the legal entry into the United States.

Contested adoption: A contested adoption involves terminating the parental rights of a biological parent who wishes to keep custody of the child. Contested adoption can only happen if there is proof of a six month window of abandonment, neglect or failure to support the child.

Schedule an Appointment

If you are interested in adoption, please contact our office. We are conveniently located in the City of St. Charles. To schedule your free initial phone consultation or courtesy no charge office conference, please call 636-946-7900.

Law Office of Henry Gerhardt

P.O. Box 1072
St. Charles, MO 63302
Telephone: 636-946-7900 | Fax: Upon request
Map and Directions

The Law Office of Henry Gerhardt is located in St. Charles, Missouri, and represents clients throughout the area, including the cities of St. Peters, O'Fallon, Lake St. Louis, Troy, Wentzville, Warrenton, St. Louis, Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Earth City, and Elsberry as well as St. Charles County and St. Louis County.