Meet the team

Specialist legal advice concerning adoption

Adoption Solicitors

Adopting a child is a major decision with significant legal implications. At Nelsons, our expert team of solicitors in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham understand this sensitive and complex process and can guide you from the outset right up to the issue of the adoption certificate.

The path to becoming an adoptive parent, whether you are adopting a child from the UK or abroad, is long and can be difficult. In either case, you will be assessed by the Local Authority, and with international adoptions, there are extra issues to consider, such as foreign adoption laws and UK immigration laws.

Need advice? Contact us to find out how we can help

What are the different types of adoption?

  • Domestic adoption – the adoption of a child within England and Wales, where the child is either a family member or in the care of the local authority
  • International adoption – an adoption where the child is being brought from a country outside England and Wales
  • Step-parent adoption
  • Foster parent adoption
  • Local Authority adoption – when it is your child who is potentially being placed for adoption by a local authority
  • Surrogacy adoption

How our specialist team of adoption solicitors

At Nelsons, we have a unique and highly specialist team of adoption solicitors who have extensive knowledge of this specialist area of law.

We can assist with all aspects of the adoption process, including applications, assessments and orders. We can also provide advice concerning parental and birth parent rights.

Our expertise

Adoption SolicitorsOur children law team includes:

  • Resolution Accredited Specialists
  • Law Society Family Panel & Advanced Family Panel members
  • Law Society Children Panel Members

Our expertise in children law is also recognised by the independent directories, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

The team was also shortlisted for the ‘Family Law Firm of the Year: Midlands and Wales’ award at the Family Law Awards 2021.

To discuss how our adoption solicitors in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham can help you, please contact us via our online form or call 0800 024 1976 for a guaranteed response.

  • "Nelsons Solicitors Limited has an experienced family and children law practice, and is noted for its strength in cases with an international element. The family team...regularly advises high-net-worth individuals on financial relief cases. Melanie Bridgen, who heads up the children team, is experienced in complex children proceedings; this includes matters concerning international relocation, parental alienation and non-accidental injuries."

    Legal 500

  • “Accomplished practice noted for both matrimonial and childcare matters. Appropriately equipped to assist with public and private children law, including adoptions, child abductions and non-accidental injury cases. Active in high-value financial remedy matters, including those involving trusts, commercial assets and cross-border aspects.”

    Chambers & Partners

  • "Very satisfied with all the service you have given me. Thank you for all the help I have been given."

    Client Feedback

  • "Service was superb."

    Client Feedback

  • "I have had Nelsons...supporting me for two years, and I can't thank Melanie Bridgen, Kate Warner and Katy Swinbourne enough for helping me get custody of my children, it has been a long heartbreaking tough court case. Melanie Bridgen is a top-class woman and I highly respect her for what she has done for me and my children...Melanie has reassured me though out the whole proceedings, so...if you ever need a solicitor for children I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Thank you very much, Melanie, and...Nelsons..., you helped me get through a different process and get my children into my care and have full custody."

    Client Feedback

  • "Perfect handling of a sensitive situation."

    Client Feedback

Find out how Nelsons can help you. Contact our friendly team for a guaranteed fast response.

For advice and support 0800 024 1976
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