Guardianship Attorney Las Vegas

Are you looking forward to adopting a child in the state of Nevada? Or to obtain custody through legal guardianship? Then you will need the expertise of Johnson & Gruber, P.C.! Our law firm has the knowledge and experience in family law application and litigation, making the legal process as smooth and efficient as possible. We know that becoming a legal guardian is a challenging task and is a life-changing matter. That is why we are here to assist and ensure that the process will be managed carefully to avoid any undesirable outcome, such as conflict from the child's biological parents and other relatives due to the adoption or acquiring of custody.

We don’t take guardianship cases lightly, as prospective adoptive parents are a blessing for the state and the children themselves. Adoptive parents provide a safe home for these children.

So how do you know that you're eligible to adopt a child? As per the state law governing adoptions, a prospective adoptive parent must be at least ten years older than the child subject for adoption. When the child is already 14 years old, his/her consent is needed for the adoption to pursue. Any adult can adopt a child. All they need to do is file a petition for adoption within Nevada's district court. However, if the prospective adoptive parent is married, his/her spouse shall willfully give his/her consent for the adoption.  

Here in Johnson & Gubler, P.C., we offer both guardianship and adoption lawyer services. We will give you an overview of what these legal procedures are all about and explain their differences.

Guardianship merely creates a legal relationship between a child and the adult that is not his/her biological parent. The adult will obtain custody over the child. Still, it does not extinguish the birth parents’ rights and responsibility for the child, such as visitation, the obligation for child support, rules of inheritance, and custody. However, a legal guardian may make certain decisions for the child regarding his/her well being.

On the other hand, adoption produces a more firm and permanent relationship between the adoptive parent and the child. It will result in the extinguishment of the birth parent's rights and obligations and will be passed on to the adoptive parents. The adoptive parents are not just merely guardians now; they are the child's actual parents under the law.

That is why in almost every court proceeding before an adoption shall be permitted, the birth parent must give up all his rights and obligations over the child. In most cases, a remarried parent will often try to persuade their spouse to adopt a child from a previous marriage. However, no matter how noble the cause may be, this proposition is frequently accepted without even thinking of and understanding the ramifications. This action will bring about obligations that the adoptive step-parent would end up being surprised with. However, in this matter, the spouse should have guardianship over the child without extinguishing the birth parent's rights and obligations. If you are in need of a guardianship attorney Las Vegas, call us today and we can help. Contact us to discuss your adoption or guardianship needs.