Adoption and family law runs the full range of human emotions. Whether you are experiencing the exhilaration of adding to the family by adopting a child or the stress created by the break up of a marriage, you need an attorney to counsel you on the long-term and legal effects of the choices you need to make. Since you will be spending a lot of time with the attorney you choose to represent you in these matters, it is important that you choose a competent attorney and one  with whom you can communicate with easily. At the Law Firm of Dennis Eshman, PLLC, our clients receive the personal service and attention that makes the comfortable enough to voice their needs and concerns

Many proposed adoptions in Washington, DC are ones in which the child’s adoptive placement will be considered an interstate placement. Dennis Eshman formerly headed the organization of state employees (i.e., the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, or AAICPC) who ensure that interstate adoptions are done legally. As the head of the AAICPC, Dennis Eshman provided interpretations of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) to state and other government employees. He also oversaw the administration of the regulations that apply to the ICPC and crafted a number of modifications of the regulations to make the ICPC more workable in its practice. Dennis Eshman also conducted many training and orientation sessions for members of the judiciary, government employees, and professionals in the private sector to analyze the proper execution of the ICPC. Dennis Eshman’s experience in overseeing the nationwide administration of the ICPC contributes to the expertise that is offered on interstate placements in Washington, DC.

Jurisdiction for an adoption in the District of Columbia exists when the petitioner for adoption is a resident of Washington, DC, the petitioner was a resident of Washington, DC for at least a year preceding the filing of the petition, or the child to be adopted is in the custody of the District of Columbia or a licensed child-placing agency in Washington, DC

Any person who meets the jurisdictional requirements may adopt, including a single person or a non-married couple, regardless of sexual orientation. Both adults and children may be adopted in Washington, DC.

For an adoption of a child to take place, the legal rights of the biological parents must be terminated. This can be done either prior to the time that the adoption petition is filed or as part of the actions on the petition for adoption. In many cases, the biological parents must consent to the adoption, but in Washington, DC if the parent has abandoned the child and failed to contribute to the child’s support for at least six months, the parent’s consent is no longer required.

For any adoption to be pursued in Washington, DC, a petition for adoption must be filed with the Domestic Relations clerk in the Family Law Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. There is a fee for filing the petition except for proposed adoptions of children who are in the legal custody of the District of Columbia government.

At the LawFirm of Dennis Eshman, PLLC, we can provide you with the appropriate legal services for any of the following:

• Adoption and Child Placement - Adopting a child can be a rewarding, loving experience, but adoptive procedures can be overwhelming and complex, especially when the child crosses state lines for placement. We can make this a painless process for both the adoptive child and the adoptive parents. We are familiar with the compliance requirements for adoptions within D.C. and for adoptions of children that cross state lines.We ensure that the state of residency for the child and both parents is notified of the adoption as the law requires to eliminate grounds for a challenge to the adoption at any time in the future. We can also provide you with guidance on financial assistance for the adoption process. If you are in a second marriage, we can provide the guidance to accomplish stepparent adoptions and termination of parental rights. If you are considering an international adoption, we can provide you with guidance in that area, too.
  
  
• Family Law Matters: We provide legal services for family issues including divorce, separation, child custody, child support, and restraint orders. We can help you review the property that has come into the family over the course of the marriage and determine an appropriate division of property. We can provide assistance with enforcing a court order on support payments or visitation.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your family successfully complete a local or interstate adoption.

Dennis Eshman is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Florida.