Your Adoption Attorney

Krispen Culbertson, Greensboro adoption lawyer, practicing in Guilford County District Court for 20+ years. Focus on step-parent, private, agency, kinship, and adult adoptions, TPR when needed, and NC Vital Records amended birth certificates.

Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law section. Courts: Greensboro and High Point District Court calendars.

Fast answers

Helpful links: Greensboro Family Lawyer • Greensboro Child Custody Lawyer • Greensboro Child Support Lawyer • Greensboro Paternity and Parentage • Greensboro Modification and Enforcement • Greensboro Appeals and Post-Judgment • Greensboro UIFSA and UCCJEA

What we handle in Greensboro

• Step-parent adoption from consult to final decree
• Private adoption and agency adoption coordination, including DSS and licensed agencies
• Relative and kinship adoption for grandparents, aunts or uncles, and adult siblings
• Adult adoption with clean consent paperwork
• Consents and relinquishments with proper notarization and proof
• Putative father registry searches and affidavits
• Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) filings when needed
• Home study referrals, pre-placement assessments, and post-placement reporting
• ICPC packets for interstate placements and ICWA screening when applicable
• Requests for amended birth certificates and, where applicable, a Certificate of Foreign Birth

Step-parent adoption in Guilford County

Step-parent adoption can give a child stability at home, at school, and at the doctor’s office.

• When it fits: the step-parent is committed to a permanent legal role and the child has lived in the new family unit.
• Consent and notice: your spouse, as the legal parent, must consent; the other parent’s consent or legal notice is needed unless the court excuses it after proof of statutory grounds.
• If the other parent cannot be found: the court expects documented efforts and, when appropriate, publication.
• Home study: some step-parent cases qualify for limited assessments; others require a pre-placement review.
• Background checks and affidavits: criminal and CPS checks are common; we prepare the right forms.
• Final hearing: we present a clear record and prepare order language that schools and healthcare providers can follow without confusion.

Related reading: Greensboro Child Custody Lawyer • Greensboro Child Support Lawyer • Greensboro Modification and Enforcement

Private and agency adoptions

• Choosing a path: independent placement with approved professionals or an agency route with training and matching.
• Pre-placement assessment: references, home visits, and safety checks.
• Relinquishments and placement agreements: drafted and signed with the correct formalities.
• Expense tracking: lawful expenses only, with receipts and disclosures.
• Post-placement: scheduled visits and reports leading to a final hearing in Guilford County District Court.

Relative and kinship adoptions

• When kinship adoption helps: long-term care by a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or adult sibling.
• Consents and notice: based on current legal rights and location of parents.
• DSS involvement: if the child is in care, we coordinate calendars and required reports.
• After finalization: we help schools, doctors, and insurers update records.

Adult adoptions

• Consent-driven: adults consent, and a spouse’s consent may be required.
• Planning points: name change, inheritance, and records.
• Court steps: streamlined filings and a short hearing.

Rights, consents, and the putative father registry

• Whose consent is needed: a legal parent with rights must consent unless the court finds a statutory reason to proceed without it.
• Putative father registry: we request a certified search, file the results, and handle notice or affidavits.
• Minor parent issues: additional safeguards may apply, including a guardian ad litem in some cases.

Cross-link: Greensboro Paternity and Parentage

Termination of Parental Rights when required

• Grounds and proof: abandonment, failure to support, or other statutory grounds must be proven with credible evidence.
• Service and diligence: personal service where possible; publication only after a real search.
• Coordinating calendars: we time TPR steps with the adoption calendar to avoid delay.
• Appeal windows: we protect a clean record for finality.

Cross-link: Greensboro Appeals and Post-Judgment

Home study and post-placement reports

• Pre-placement assessment: interviews, references, home safety, and financial review.
• Timing: start early to avoid slowdowns; we coordinate with evaluators known in Guilford County.
• Post-placement: scheduled visits and written reports submitted before finalization.
• Step-parent exceptions: some matters qualify for limited assessments under the statute.

Interstate and international points

• ICPC: interstate placements require prior approval; we assemble the packet, track status, and confirm when the child can travel.
• Out-of-state finalizations: we help North Carolina recognize the decree and update records.
• International re-adoption or recognition: for children adopted abroad, we seek a Certificate of Foreign Birth where applicable.
• ICWA screening: we ask the required questions and follow the rules when there is a tribal affiliation.

Cross-link: Greensboro UIFSA and UCCJEA

Documents and timelines

Bring these to your consult or upload them securely:

• Identity documents and marriage certificates
• Prior custody or child support orders
• Consents, relinquishments, and registry results if available
• Home study or agency reports, if already started
• Financial disclosures and expense receipts for private placements

Typical flow in Greensboro:

Your first 72 hours with our team

FAQs

Why Greensboro families choose Culbertson & Associates

• 20+ years handling step-parent, private, agency, kinship, and adult adoptions
• Weekly practice in Guilford County District Court
• Tight coordination with agencies, evaluators, and NC Vital Records
• Clear timelines and fee plans
• Help for petitioners and for respondents who were served in adoption or TPR cases