When faced with life changing issues, you should have access to a trained professional to assist you with making decisions that will have life-long ramifications.
What You Need to Know
Adoption Timeline Overview
Adoption is deeply rewarding, but it’s also a legal process that requires time, attention, and patience. While timelines can vary, most adoptions in South Carolina take several months from start to finalization. The process typically begins with a petition to adopt, followed by background checks, consent from biological parents if required, a home study in some cases, and a hearing before a family court judge. Some cases move quickly, while others involve more steps depending on the circumstances. We work to keep your case moving forward and prepare you for what to expect at every stage. From paperwork to court appearances, we’re by your side — helping you stay focused on what matters most: welcoming a child into your family.
Types of Adoption We Handle
Every adoption is a story — and no two are the same. Our firm is proud to guide families through a variety of adoption paths, each with its own legal process and emotional considerations. Stepparent adoptions are among the most common, offering a way for a spouse to establish a legal relationship with a child they’re already raising. We also handle relative adoptions, where a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other family member steps in to provide a permanent home. In addition, we work with families pursuing private adoptions, whether arranged independently or through an agency. Each type of adoption has different steps and documentation requirements, and we ensure you understand your rights and responsibilities from the beginning. Whether you’re expanding your family or formalizing a bond that’s already there, we’re here to support you.
Meet the Attorney
Dennis M. Gerald has been serving the people of South Carolina with integrity and dedication since 1989. A Columbia native and proud graduate of the University of South Carolina, Dennis founded The Gerald Law Firm to provide clients with personalized, principled legal representation during some of life’s most sensitive and significant moments.
Over the years, Dennis’s practice has evolved to reflect his passion for service and his deep understanding of the legal issues that matter most to families and individuals. Today, The Gerald Law Firm focuses exclusively on estate planning, probate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and adoption law.
Whether guiding clients through the loss of a loved one, helping prepare for the future, or celebrating the formation of new families, Dennis approaches every case with clarity, compassion, and confidence built over decades of practice.
