DRM Schoenberg Family Law Group: Adoption

At Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM), the experienced and dedicated Schoenberg Family Law team can help you successfully navigate the legal issues involved in domestic or international adoption in Vermont.

Adoption in Vermont

In the state of Vermont, all adoption actions are processed through the Probate Court of each county.
There are several types of adoptions:

• stranger adoptions” in which the adoptive parents have no biological relationship to the adoptee
• adoptions in which the adoptive parent is related to the biological mother or father
• step-parent adoptions in which the spouse of a custodial parent seeks to adopt the custodial parent’s minor child(ren)
• second parent adoption in which the partner of a custodial parent seeks to adopt the custodial parent’s child(ren)

In each of the adoptions listed above, the parental rights of one or both of the minor's biological parents must be terminated.

Termination of parental rights

Termination of parental rights may be either voluntary or involuntary. Where termination is voluntary, a biological parent may sign a voluntary relinquishment of parental rights, and this process may be finalized out of court. However, if a biological parent is opposed to termination, the party(ies) seeking to adopt must file a petition with the Court for termination of the biological parent's rights. Once termination has occurred, petitioners can complete the adoption process and, after an adoption hearing, a new birth certificate will be issued for the minor child reflecting the newly adopted name.

A biological parent choosing to place a child for adoption, potential adoptive parents, step-parents or a parent involved in the termination of parental rights may wish to seek the assistance of an attorney.

DRM’s family law attorneys provide first-rate, cost-effective client service.

Led by Debra Schoenberg, who is widely known in the field and is a frequent lecturer on complex family law topics, DRM’s family law team includes eight attorneys and two legal professionals offering sharp legal skills and comprehensive services in a broad spectrum of family law matters.

Keenly aware of the emotionally-charged nature of most family law issues, our family law team responds rapidly to clients’ needs, making every effort to ensure that you are informed about the status of your case and what steps are to be taken next.

Contact Us

To explore how the DRM Schoenberg Family Law group can assist you with domestic or international adoptions, contact Practice Group Chair Debra Schoenberg.

Because we know that family law issues often can’t wait for "convenient" business hours, our 24/7 answering service can be reached during non-business hours at 802-860-8074. We respond promptly to messages left with the answering service.