Attorneys Helping With ART Adoptions, Stepparent Adoptions And Second-Parent Adoptions In Minnesota And Beyond

At Steven H. Snyder & Associates, we get positive results for our clients. We have extensive experience with adoption, assisted reproductive technology (ART), family law and estate planning, each of which adds to our ability to advise you professionally in the others. Most importantly, we make sure that each of our clients gets the personalized advice they need.

We help families of all kinds with legal matters related to adoption. If you are considering ART, adoption is an important step toward protecting your parental rights. We are also proud to help LGBTQ+ couples and others build their families and protect their parentage rights through second-parent adoption and stepparent adoption.

We are conveniently located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with easy access to Minneapolis, St. Paul and the entire Twin Cities metro area. Our adoption lawyers help build families across the state of Minnesota and beyond.

Stepparent And Second-Parent Adoptions

At Steven H. Snyder & Associates, we are committed to supporting stepparents and LGBTQ+ couples through the adoption process. For stepparent adoptions, the procedure requires consent from the noncustodial biological parent or, alternatively, a legal termination of their parental rights. This step is crucial to ensure that the adopting stepparent can fully assume full parental responsibilities without legal complications.

For LGBTQ+ couples, particularly those who have children using assisted reproductive technology (ART), formal adoption is a vital step, even if both partners’ names are already on the birth certificate. This process legally solidifies parentage in the eyes of the law, which can be crucial for medical, educational and inheritance issues that might arise in the future.

Our experienced team at Steven H. Snyder & Associates has guided many families through these complex legal waters. We understand that each family’s situation is unique, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs and circumstances. By securing legal recognition of parent-child relationships, we help ensure that your family’s rights are protected now and in the future.

ART And The Adoption Process

At Steven H. Snyder & Associates, we understand that expanding your family through assisted reproductive technology (ART) is an exciting yet complex journey. In Minnesota, there are intricate parentage laws in place that require specific legal agreements in order to safeguard the interests of all parties involved. Without these agreements, donors and surrogates could have claims to parental rights.

Our firm collaborates closely with the International Assisted Reproduction Center to offer comprehensive support to individuals and couples wishing to utilize ART. Whether you are considering finding a surrogate or seeking an egg, sperm or embryo donor, we can guide you through the legalities to ensure that your path to parenthood is as smooth and secure as possible.

We will draft clear and enforceable agreements that define each party’s roles and responsibilities, minimizing potential legal uncertainties. These contracts clarify everyone’s intentions and help prevent any disputes over parental rights that might arise after the child’s birth. Our goal is to protect your future family by addressing all the legal questions before you move forward with ART procedures.

By choosing Steven H. Snyder & Associates for your ART-related legal needs, you gain access to skilled adoption lawyers who are knowledgeable about the specific challenges and requirements of building a family through these modern technologies. We are here to support you every step of the way, from initial consultation to finalizing your parental rights.

What Is Needed In An ART Adoption?

Undergoing ART requires a careful approach to legal documentation and planning as well as medical planning. By putting these essential pieces into place, appropriate, intended parents can ensure their journey toward building a family is legally sound and secure:

• Donor agreement: This is a legal contract specifying the rights and obligations of the egg, sperm or embryo donor. These agreements prevent any future claims by making it clear that the donor relinquishes any parental rights over the child born through ART.
• Gestational carrier agreement: This is a contract outlining terms between intended parents and their gestational carrier (surrogate). This agreement protects both parties’ interests and sets clear expectations regarding the carrier’s role and compensation, if any.
• Surrogate insurance review: It is important to have appropriate insurance coverage for surrogacy arrangements. We can help you review and understand the scope of the insurance available to cover any medical expenses that might arise during the pregnancy or after the birth.
• Estate planning: Actively planning your estate can prevent the inheritance issues that sometimes arise in nontraditional family structures. Proper estate planning spells out who you want to receive your property after your death, which secures your child’s rights no matter what happens.
• Parentage establishment: It is a sound idea to proactively seek legal recognition of parent-child relationships in ART scenarios. Establishing parentage in court helps solidify your legal standing as a parent, which is essential for making decisions about the child’s welfare, education and health.

Each of these pieces plays a vital role in protecting your family’s rights and ensuring that your path to parenthood is smooth and legally solid. At Steven H. Snyder & Associates, our experienced adoption lawyers are dedicated to guiding you through each step with professionalism and care.

Reach Out Now For A Free Consultation With An Adoption Lawyer

Whether or not you choose us as your adoption lawyers, we believe in providing you with all the necessary information for you to make informed decisions. Given the dynamic nature of laws surrounding ART and same-sex family adoptions, having experienced legal counsel is indispensable.

Call 612-504-6499 or email us to schedule your free consultation.