Experienced Adoption Lawyers

Serving Riverview, Brandon and all of Hillsborough County, Florida

At the law firm ofLynette Silon-Laguna, P.A., we are experienced adoption attorneys helping stepparents, as well as other relatives, such as grandparents, who wish to adopt.  We are experienced with the legal procedures that adoption involves, and are also skilled at building a strong case when a biological parent contests the adoption.  Furthermore, an adult eighteen and older may also be adopted in circumstances where the "parents" want to make him or her officially, legally a member of the family.

Are you interested in adopting a stepchild or a relative? Call Lynette Silon-Laguna, P.A. at 813.672.1900 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.  

Stepchild or relative adoptions generally proceed smoothly if the biological parent consents to the adoption or if the birth parent does not respond to the Petition, or if the birth parent cannot be found, then a default may be entered and the adoption will proceed. If there is consent or a default, then only statutory requirements must be met to allow the adoption to occur. If it is possible the birth parent will object to the adoption, we will advise you initially as to what will happen if the natural parent objects to the adoption, and whether the facts in your situation are or are not favorable to overcome the objection. 

The adoption becomes more complicated when a birth parent contests the adoption action. In the case of a contested adoption, we must prove that the parent was able to, but has failed to provide support and to communicate with the child over a significant amount of time.  Statutorily, this is called abandonment. Proof of the biological parent's abandonment of the child and "intent to reject parental responsibilities” is necessary for the transfer by the judge of parental rights and responsibilities from the biological parent to the adopted parents.

The adoption of a child or adult can provide many benefits to both the adoptee and the adoptive parent, including:

• The child becomes legally a member of the family.
• Once the adoption occurs, the adopted child or adult and his or her "adopted" siblings have full and equal inheritance rights, precluding complicated wills and preventing inheritance disputes.
• When the adoption is final, if there are any child support orders in effect, the obligor's child support obligation will terminate.  However, any outstanding child support arrearages are not terminated and can be collected.

We will help you step by step through the adoption process and keep you informed to simplify it as much as possible for you.  There is usually much celebration at the conclusion of an adoption and we enjoy being a part of it!

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding divorce, adoption, family law or bankruptcy, as well as foreclosure defense, contact the law firm of Lynette Silon-Laguna, P.A. We provide a free initial consultation, accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express, and charge reasonable and competitive rates. Furthermore, to assist you we have a team of legal assistants and associate attorneys, including a Spanish-speaking associate attorney.

Our office is conveniently located in the Riverview/Brandon area on Highway 301 South directly off of Interstate 75, near the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue. Contact our firm by e-mail or call 813.672.1900 . We will respond immediately!

We serve all of Hillsborough County, including Riverview, Brandon, Gibsonton, Apollo Beach, Valrico, Thonotosassa, Sun City Center, Mango, Plant City, Ruskin, and Wimauma, Florida.