Need Legal Assistance Adopting a Child in Nevada?

Hire a Qualified Las Vegas and Reno Adoption Attorney

Adoption laws differ from state to state. Many individuals do not know how to correctly interpret or understand the ever-changing laws. This can lead to confusion and error when adopting a child.

Nevada Consent Laws

In the state of Nevada, three parties can consent to an adoption: a court-appointed guardian, both parents and one parent if the other is deceased. The child must be at least 14 years of age and must consent to the adoption. The only times when parental consent is not needed are if the parental rights have been court-ordered to become terminated or if a birth parent has been declared incurably insane for at least two consecutive years. Consent laws include:

• When consent can be executed. Consent can be executed after 72 hours. However, the father can consent before birth of the child if he is not married to the birth mother.
• How consent has to be executed. Consent must be executed with two witnesses in presence. It must identify the child and adopting parents and a copy must be delivered 48 hours later to the Welfare department. The birth mother must execute the consent before the child is placed in an adoptive home.

Parties When Adopting a Child and Putative Fathers

When adopting a child, there are certain restrictions. In Nevada, any adult person who is at least 10 years younger than the child can adopt. However, married couples must agree to adopt together. The child’s parents, guardian, a child welfare agency or a licensed agency with child-placement services and the adopting parents are the normal parties in an

Nevada does not have a Putative Father Registry. However, if there is a known person who considers himself as a child’s father, he should receive a termination proceedings notice. He must appear at the proceedings to claim custodial rights. It is highly recommended that you speak with a helpful Reno adoption lawyer to see who can adopt a child.

Management of Adoption Expenses

There are certain laws that affect the adoption proceedings and how a child is raised. Medical and living expenses made by the birth parent are allowed as long as this payment does not have any bearings of the child placement in adoption cases. A birth mother cannot be bribed by anyone to consent to an adoption. If the birth mother does intend to keep the child, she cannot accept payments for expenses. Check with a qualified Reno adoption attorney to learn what you will need to do after adopting a child. Other Nevada adoption laws for management of money include:

• Fees allowed to be charged by a department or agency. There is no fee for the placement of a child with special needs. Adoptive parents should be charged reasonable fees for services rendered.
• The court requirement of an account of expenses. Parties to the adoption proceedings have 15 days from the date the claim is filed or five months after receiving the child to file an affidavit regarding expenses. This must contain all fees, donations and expenses that were paid to them in connection to the adoption proceedings.

These are just a few of Nevada’s adoption laws yet there are more including federal laws. If you or a loved one is seriously considering adopting a child, please contact an experienced Reno and Las Vegas adoption lawyer at Eric A. Stovall, Ltd., who will gladly assist you in your claim.