1. Who is the law office of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd.?
2. What birth parent adoption services does the law offices of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd. offer?
3. What adoption options and community services are available to you?
4. What different types of adoption are available to you?
5. What laws govern the relinquishment or termination of parental rights so that an adoption can proceed?
6. Do I need Parental Consent in Ohio before I place my child for adoption?
7. Do you charge fees or costs related to the adoption process for parents placing a child for adoption?
8. I am a single mother, can I place my child for adoption without the father’s consent?
9. Can a prospective adoptive family pay for my living expenses or hospital bills related to the birth?
1. Who is the law office of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd.?
The law office of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd. is a sole practitioner law office offering individualized attention and services to the children and families it serves. Attorney Todd M. Kolarik has been practicing adoption law for approximately five (5) years and has extensive experience in probate and attorney adoption procedures in the State of Ohio. I want to help you do what is best for your child, be it parenting the child yourself or placing the child for adoption after you are fully informed of your rights and responsibilities under the law as to your options.
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2. What services do the law office of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd. offer?
The law office of Todd M. Kolarik, Attorney-at-Law, Ltd. wants to make sure that you are fully informed of your options and guide you as to the legal process that will be required according to your particular factual matter. Depending on your particular factual situation, I may be able to represent you in any legal proceeding in Ohio to effectuate an adoptive placement. As an attorney, any adoption arranged by me will be done through a legal process in the appropriate court of law, usually the Probate Court of the county in which you reside or the county in which the prospective adoptive family resides. I will help you look at all of your options so that you can decide what is in the best interest of your child. I will help you formulate an adoption plan for your child one step at a time. You can tell me what type of family you feel would be best for your child as well as what level of openness you would like to have with the family now and in the future. I will attempt to present to you several potential adoptive families that fit into the characteristics that you request. You can review as many profiles as you wish before making a decision as to which family you feel would be meet your child’s needs. Generally, you will receive a letter, through my office, from each prospective adoptive family telling you more about themselves. These families will generally also provide a "photo resume" to show you more about themselves, their family, and lifestyle. Once you review the profiles, you have the option of conducting interviews with as many of the prospective families as you like, either in person or on the phone. You are in control of the process of selecting the family and can ask them any question you want and further discuss openness issues so you can get a feel for whether the placement is in the child’s best interest.
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3. What adoption options and community services are available to you?
The options and community services available to you will vary by state. We will discuss all of your state specific options and services with you. Overall, as a Birth Parent, you have the following options.
Options for Parents Considering Adoptive Placement
- parenting the child yourself
- placing your child with a relative or friend either temporarily or permanently
- placing your child in foster care or a guardianship
- making an adoption plan for placing your child in the care of another family
Community Services that may be available.
- counseling
- birth parent support groups
- legal services
- health care/nutrition services
- employment services
- financial help
- child care
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4. What different types of adoption are available to you?
- Open Adoption: Open adoption allows for the exchange of identifying or non-identifying information about yourself and the prospective adoptive family. You can request an adoptive family that is open to sending letters and pictures either directly to you or through my office. The level of openness is determined by the parties to the adoption. Some parents want to have continued physical contact with the child after placement for adoption through visits throughout the child's life. The frequency of these visits can be discussed and agreed upon before placement. Some parents will visit once a year while others may desire visits more frequently. As part of an open adoption, parents have the option to receive letters and pictures of the child sent directly to you or through my office. Generally, I have adoptive families send photos every three months the first year, twice a year the next two, and at least once a year beyond that until the child reaches adulthood. If you prefer, I can hold onto the letters and pictures until you are ready to receive them. You may also wish to send pictures or gifts to your child as he or she grows. This can be done in the same manner, either through me or directly from the adoptive family. These are issues you can personally discuss with prospective adoptive families during your interview if you wish. However, please be aware that under some state laws, open adoption arrangements may or may not be upheld in court. They maybe “good faith agreements”. We will talk to you about your state’s specific laws.
- Closed Adoption: Unlike an open adoption, a closed adoption is completely confidential. Neither party will know the other's identity and no contact will be made between you and the adoptive family after the adoption. If both parties agree, an adoption that begins as a closed adoption can turn into an open adoption at a later date. However, please be aware that under some state laws, any open adoption arrangement or agreement may not be enforceable in a court of law and may strictly a good faith agreement between the parties which can be altered at any time by either party. We will talk to you about your state’s specific laws.
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5. What laws govern the relinquishment or termination of parental rights so that an adoption can proceed?
Every case is different so I can not say exactly what legal process will need to occur for an adoptive placement until you have selected a prospective adoptive family for your child. Adoption law is governed completely by State law, so each case depends on your location as well as the location of the prospective adoptive family. We will discuss the specifics of your case with you.
6. Do I need Parental Consent before I place my child for adoption?
If you are a minor, placing your child for adoption may or may not require parental knowledge or consent. We will talk to you about the specifics of your situation based on your state
.
7. Do you charge fees or costs related to the adoption process for parents placing a child for adoption?
No. You will not be charged any fees for any service provided. The prospective adoptive family will be billed for all fees/costs associated with the services provided to you.
8. I am a single mother, can I place my child for adoption without the father’s consent?
The answer to this question is complicated and depends on the facts of your particular case, mainly whether there is a “legal father” or not. We will discuss the laws of your state with you.
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9. Can a prospective adoptive family pay for my living expenses or hospital bills related to the birth?
Each state has a different law about whether or not you can receive living expenses. In most cases, the adoptive families can assist with your hospital bills. We will discuss the laws of your state with you.
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