The Arbor Law Firm provides affordable legal representation
for Virginia parents in the following matters:

• Virginia Stepparent Adoption

• Virginia Foster Care Adoption

• Virginia Agency Adoption

• Virginia Close Relative Adoption

• Virginia Adult Adoption

• Domestic Re-Adoption of Children Adopted Abroad

• Parental Placement Adoption

• Birth Parent Legal Representation

The Arbor Law Firm offers flexible consultations, with evening and weekend appointments available for busy families via Zoom or in-home. It can be difficult for parents to arrange for childcare to meet with an attorney or to take more time from work to meet during traditional office hours. Arbor's flexible scheduling and mobile legal services are ideal for adoptive parents, and planning meetings and execution of petitions, affidavits, and other paperwork required to legally file and finalize a Virginia adoption can be conducted on your schedule, from your own home. Arbor's legal services also include in-home notary services for affidavits and petitions for adoption, at no additional charge.

Adoptions are classified in many ways (open, closed, agency, etc...), but the titles describe various forms of two primary adoption means: agency placement or parental placement of children. Even international adoptions and stepparent adoptions fall into these two categories. Regardless of description, every type of adoption finalized in Virginia must follow a set of statutory procedures, observing all state, federal, and international laws governing the placement of children with families.

Domestically, the majority of overall adoption matters are stepparent adoptions. Infant adoptions are now primarily through parental placement, with a substantial portion also coming through agencies, while international adoptions are almost solely conducted through an agency. If you select an agency to assist in your path to parenthood, please ensure that the agency is fully licensed to operate in Virginia, or that your selected agency is partnered with a Virginia-licensed agency. Virginia’s policies for agency licensing ensure the protection of adoptive children, and protect the rights of both the adoptive parents and birth parents. Please be sure to thoroughly investigate any agency found online, as some agencies are not reputable and can actually hinder your chances of a successful placement. While the internet can be a wonderful and broad source of information on adoption and agencies for parents, it can also lead to abuse by disreputable agencies or bad actors who do not conform to Virginia’s standards of protection. A searchable data base of Virginia-authorized adoption agencies is maintained by the Department of Social Services.

Flexible adoption attorney services are available in Alexandria, Arlington, and throughout Fairfax County.
Foster care adoption service areas include Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William, and Loudoun Counties.

Combine Adoption Services with Estate Planning

For Virginia-resident adoptive parents, Arbor offers combined packages for estate planning and adoption legal services, to incorporate new family members into an overall estate plan. Combination packages for adoption services and completion of a simultaneous estate planning package are offered at a lower combined rate than if these services were retained individually.