Infant Adoption Attorney

Adopt Your Baby in Arkansas With an Attorney Beside You at Every Step

Get Your Infant Adoption Done Right, Start to Finish

You’re ready to adopt a baby. I’m Chuck Buchan, an Arkansas infant adoption attorney, and I’ll make sure the legal side goes smoothly.

An infant adoption comes down to a few things done right: the right people consent at the right time, a licensed professional completes your home study, and I file a petition the judge can approve. Get those right and the hearing is the happy part.

How I Handle Your Infant Adoption Case

Every adoption is a little different, but the legal path follows the same five steps.

CONSULTATION AND PLANNING

We start with a free conversation about where you are right now. Maybe you're working with an agency, maybe you're arranging a private adoption, or maybe you're just getting started. I explain how the process works, answer your questions, and tell you what to expect.

CONSENT FROM THE BIRTH PARENTS

Arkansas law requires the birth mother's written consent, and she can only sign it after the baby is born. Certain fathers must consent too, and the law spells out which ones. I prepare the consent forms and make sure they're signed the way Arkansas requires, so they hold up.

THE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD

After consent is signed, the birth parent has a short window to change their mind: 10 calendar days after signing or the baby's birth, whichever is later, or 5 days if the parent chooses the shorter period. I explain how that works up front, so you know when the window closes and what happens next.

HOME STUDY, PETITION, AND FILING

An infant adoption usually requires a home study unless you are closely related to the infant. A licensed child welfare agency or licensed certified social worker completes it, and the written report is filed with the court before your petition is heard. I will refer you to a home study provider, draft your petition and supporting documents, and file everything with the court.

THE HEARING AND THE DECREE

At the hearing, the judge decides whether the adoption is in your child's best interest. I prepare you for the judge's questions and go to court with you. Once the final decree is entered, your child is legally your child for all purposes, including inheritance, and the birth parents' legal ties generally end. Then comes my favorite part: the picture with the judge.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

    
 
 
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   Must Love AdVenture 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chuck Buchan has been absolutely wonderful! We are so thankful for all the work that he has done to get us to this adoption day!  He has been on top of everything, from day one, making this adoption process for our little girl smooth, seamless, and stress-free. He was so quick to respond with any questions that we had and had been instrumental in this process of completing our sweet family. Can’t say enough, just that we are so thankful that he has been with us through this journey.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hope Baldwin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. He made our dream come true 🤍
Such an easy process. We literally didn’t have to do any work he took care of it all
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   randi noonan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. he made the adoption process so easy and went above and beyond to get everything settled for us. we highly recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Skyler Talmage 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Everything went smooth and as it was explained to us by our lawyer. Highly recommend! He was affordable and timely with our case.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jessica Clark 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are grateful for the time Chuck spent helping us with our adoption. God Bless.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Elodia Ramos 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am very thankful for all Mr.Chuck did for us he is a great lawyer the process was very fast and with no complications, he is very polite and answer all your concerns in a timely manner, I will defenetly recommend him.
  
 
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   Martinez Jesus 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We cannot recommend Chuck Buchanan highly enough. Throughout our adoption process, Chuck was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. He communicated clearly every step of the way, answered our questions quickly, and always took the time to make sure we understood what was happening.

Our adoption involved Cherokee Nation and ICWA considerations, which added additional complexity to the process. Chuck handled every challenge and guided us through each step with patience and expertise.

What stood out most was how much he genuinely cared. He wasn't just our attorney—he was someone who checked in on us, kept us informed, and provided reassurance during what can be an emotional and stressful journey. His personable approach made us feel supported and valued from beginning to end.

If you are looking for an adoption attorney who is knowledgeable, responsive, compassionate, and truly invested in his clients, we would absolutely recommend Chuck Buchanan.
  
 
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   Layla Branson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend Chuck for any adoption case! I suddenly had the opportunity to adopt my step-son and Chuck instantly took the case and managed to get all papers signed in less than a week. He also managed to get us a hearing speedily (in literally less than a week from when we filed). He was super respectful and answered all of my questions and explained everything to me!

Answering Commonly Asked Infant adoption Questions

Who has to consent to an infant adoption in Arkansas?

The birth mother always has to consent in writing. Whether the birth father does depends on his relationship to the mother and the baby. A father generally must consent if he was married to the mother when the baby was conceived or at any time after, has been legally adjudicated the father, has acknowledged paternity, or has physical custody or a custody order when the petition is filed (Ark. Code § 9-9-206). A father who doesn’t fit those categories generally doesn’t have to provide consent (§ 9-9-207). Sorting this out is one of the first things I do, because a judge can only grant the adoption if the right consents are in place.

Can a birth parent change their mind after the adoption is final?

No. Once the judge enters the decree, consent can’t be withdrawn (§ 9-9-209). Before that, the only way to withdraw is during the short window after signing, by filing an affidavit with the circuit court clerk. That’s why I make sure everyone understands the consent and the timeline before anything is signed.

Can a single person adopt a baby in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas allows an unmarried adult to file an adoption petition, just like a married couple (§ 9-9-204). The same steps apply: consent, home study, petition, and hearing.

Can the court waive the home study?

In limited situations, yes. The court can waive it for a stepparent adoption or when the person adopting and the child are closely related (§ 9-9-212). For most infant adoptions, plan on completing one.

Can I help pay the birth mother’s expenses?

Arkansas allows reasonable costs tied to the birth mother’s pregnancy, delivery, and recovery, such as medical care, housing, food, and clothing. A birth parent can never be paid for placing a child for adoption (§ 9-9-206). You also report what you’ve spent to the court before the hearing. Please talk to me before you pay anything, so it’s handled correctly.

Ensuring You Can Focus on Your New Baby While I Handle the Legal Work

Adopting a baby is an emotional time. You might be excited, nervous, or both, and the paperwork shouldn’t add to that.

That’s where I come in. I take care of the consents, the petition, and the hearing, so you can focus on your family.

I keep you posted at every step so you always know what’s next, and my flat fee means you know my legal fee up front.

If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure where to begin, call or text me. I’m happy to talk it through.

Start Your Adoption With a Free Consultation

Maybe you’ve been matched with a birth mother, maybe you’re working with an agency, or maybe you’re just starting to think about adoption. Wherever you are, I’d like to hear about your situation. We’ll go over what the process looks like for you and what comes next.