Your Solicitors in Sydney’s Inner West
Contact
- Shop 1, 192-200 Parramatta Road. Stanmore NSW 2048
- Tel.: 02 9159 9026
- Mail : info@fletchlaw.com.au
©2021. Eyers Borowy Pty Ltd, Trading as Fletch Law. All Rights Reserved.
Petersham Adoption Lawyers
Are You a Step-Parent Who Has Raised a Child as Your Own — and Are You Now Wondering Whether You Can Make That Relationship Legally Permanent?
FletchLaw advises on step-parent adoption clearly and practically — explaining the legal requirements, the consent process, and what formalising the relationship would mean for everyone involved. We serve Petersham and the Inner West, and your first conversation with us won’t cost you a cent.
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Are You Facing Any of These Concerns Right Now?
Do you know what step-parent adoption actually involves — and how different it is from the relationship you already have with the child?
A step-parent adoption order creates a full legal parent-child relationship — with all of the rights, responsibilities, and inheritance implications that entails. It also extinguishes the legal relationship between the child and their other birth parent. Understanding the full legal effect of adoption before you proceed is essential — and we make sure you do, in plain English, before any application is made.
Do you know whether the consent of the other birth parent is required — and what happens if that consent is withheld?
In most circumstances, the consent of the child’s other birth parent is required before a step-parent adoption can proceed. Where that consent is withheld, the court has the power to dispense with it in certain circumstances — but the threshold is high and the process requires careful legal management. We advise you clearly on whether dispensation is realistic in your situation and what the process would involve.
Does the child have a view about the adoption — and do you know how the court takes that into account?
A child’s wishes are a significant consideration in adoption proceedings — particularly as the child gets older. In New South Wales, a child over 12 must consent to their own adoption. For younger children, the court will consider the child’s expressed views and overall wellbeing in assessing whether the adoption order is in their best interests. We advise on how the child’s perspective is properly presented and considered throughout the process.
Are you uncertain whether adoption is the right legal step — or whether a parenting order might better reflect your family's circumstances?
Adoption is not the only way to formalise a step-parent’s role in a child’s life. In some circumstances, a parenting order may be a more appropriate and less legally consequential option — particularly where maintaining the child’s relationship with their other birth parent remains important. We assess your specific circumstances honestly and advise you on which legal pathway genuinely serves the child’s best interests.
Are you considering adopting a child from overseas — and do you know what the Australian legal requirements are on top of the sending country's process?
Intercountry adoption involves two parallel legal processes — the requirements of the sending country and the Australian legal framework, including assessment by the relevant state authority and recognition of the overseas adoption order. We advise on the Australian legal aspects of intercountry adoption and work alongside the relevant agencies to make sure the process is managed correctly from an Australian perspective.
Are you a birth parent facing an adoption application — and do you fully understand your rights and what consent to adoption means?
Consent to adoption is one of the most consequential legal acts a person can undertake — it is generally irrevocable once given, and it permanently changes the legal relationship between the birth parent and the child. We provide honest, compassionate advice to birth parents to make sure that any consent given is fully informed, freely made, and the product of a genuine understanding of what adoption means legally and practically for the future.
Meet Simon Fletcher
Adoption is one of the most profound legal steps a family can take — and one that deserves to be approached with the same care and thoroughness that the relationship it formalises has been built upon. At FletchLaw, we understand that the families who come to us about adoption have usually already made their emotional commitment. Our role is to make sure the legal process reflects that commitment accurately, completely, and in a way that genuinely serves the child at the centre of it.
Simon Fletcher has advised Petersham and Inner West families on step-parent adoption, known child adoption, and the Australian legal aspects of intercountry adoption. He brings the same plain-English clarity and genuine commitment to the right outcome to every adoption matter he handles — making sure every party to the process understands exactly what is involved and that the child’s best interests remain the governing consideration throughout.
If you’re considering a step-parent adoption or any other form of adoption and want to understand what’s involved, your first conversation with Simon won’t cost you a cent. No pressure, no obligation — just honest, experienced advice about whether adoption is the right step and what the process would look like for your family.
Book your free telephone consultation now.
How We Can Help You Through This
We'll advise you clearly on whether adoption is the most appropriate legal step for your family's circumstances — and what alternative legal options exist where adoption may not be the right fit.
We'll explain the full legal effect of an adoption order — including the rights and responsibilities it creates, the relationships it extinguishes, and the inheritance and identity implications for the child.
We'll advise on the consent requirements for your specific situation — including who must consent, how consent is properly obtained, and what happens where consent is withheld or cannot be obtained.
We'll advise on applications to dispense with parental consent where it is being unreasonably withheld — assessing the realistic prospects honestly and managing the application carefully where it is appropriate to proceed.
We'll prepare and manage the adoption application — coordinating with the relevant government agencies, preparing all required documentation, and making sure every procedural requirement is properly met.
We'll advise on how the child's views and best interests are presented in the proceedings — making sure the court has a full and accurate picture of the child's circumstances and the family's situation.
We'll advise on the Australian legal framework for intercountry adoption — working alongside the relevant state and federal agencies to make sure the Australian aspects of the process are managed correctly.
We'll provide honest, compassionate advice to birth parents considering or facing an adoption — making sure any decision about consent is fully informed and freely made.
We'll be there throughout — sensitive to the profound significance of what adoption means for every member of the family, and completely focused on making sure the legal process reflects that significance properly.
The 3 Step FletchLaw Process
Book Your Free, No-Obligation Consultation
Call us and speak directly with Simon Fletcher. He'll listen carefully to your family's situation, assess whether adoption is the right legal pathway, and give you an honest picture of the process — what it involves, how long it takes, and what the realistic prospects are. No cost, no pressure, no commitment. Just clear, experienced advice from a solicitor who understands what this means for your family.
We Manage Every Stage of the Process With Care and Precision
Once you instruct us, we handle everything — consent, agency coordination, documentation, court filing, and representation at any hearing. We manage the legal complexity carefully and thoroughly so that nothing is missed and the process moves as smoothly as it possibly can toward the outcome your family is working toward.
The Legal Relationship That Reflects the Real One
When the adoption order is made, the relationship you have built with this child — the years of care, commitment, and love — is given the full legal recognition it deserves. The child is legally your child in every sense. That is what adoption is. And getting it right, on behalf of a child who deserves it to be right, is what we are here to do.
Take the First Step — Your Free Consultation Won't Cost You a Cent
Adoption is one of the most significant legal steps a family can take — and the decision to pursue it deserves to be made with complete understanding of what the process involves and what the legal outcome means. Your initial consultation with Simon Fletcher is completely free. It’s a warm, private conversation focused entirely on your family’s situation. Here’s what you can expect:
- A warm, sensitive conversation — a private space to share your family’s story, explain your reasons for considering adoption, and get honest answers without any pressure to proceed
- Clarity on whether adoption is the right step — a plain-English explanation of the legal effect of adoption, what it would mean for everyone involved, and whether it is the most appropriate legal pathway given your specific circumstances
- An honest overview of the process — a realistic picture of what the adoption process involves, how long it typically takes, what the consent requirements are, and what the court considers in deciding whether to make an order
- Practical guidance on your specific situation — advice built around your family’s particular circumstances, the child’s age and views, and the position of any other parties whose consent or involvement is required
- The space to ask anything — whether it’s about consent, the other birth parent’s likely response, the child’s role in the proceedings, intercountry requirements, or what happens if something goes wrong — this is your time
Ready to take the first step? Call us today to book your free consultation — we're here to help.
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What to Expect When You Work with FletchLaw
Free initial consultation with no obligation
Speak with Simon, understand whether adoption is right for your family, and decide whether we’re the right fit — without spending a cent or committing to anything.
Sensitive handling at every stage
We understand the profound emotional significance of adoption for every member of the family involved. Every interaction is conducted with the care, patience, and discretion that reflects that significance.
Direct access to Simon Fletcher throughout
You work with the principal solicitor from the first conversation to the final order — not passed between staff or left with someone unfamiliar with your family’s situation and history.
Plain English at every stage
The adoption process explained clearly — every legal requirement, every procedural step, and every decision point — in language that makes real sense for your family’s circumstances.
Transparent billing with no surprises
Every charge explained clearly before work begins. You’ll always know what you’re paying for and why — with nothing added without your knowledge or consent.
Honest advice on realistic prospects
We tell you honestly whether the adoption is likely to succeed, what the obstacles are, and what the alternatives might be — because your family’s time and emotional investment deserve straight answers.
Experience across different adoption pathways
Step-parent adoption, known child adoption, intercountry adoption — we have experience across the adoption pathways available in New South Wales and advise on each clearly.
Child-focused thinking throughout
The child’s best interests govern every aspect of the adoption process — and they govern our approach to every matter we handle. What is right for the child is always the starting point.
Compassionate advice for birth parents
We provide honest, non-judgmental advice to birth parents at every stage — making sure any decision about consent is genuinely informed and freely made.
A local Inner West firm that knows this community
We’re based in Stanmore, minutes from Petersham. We understand the Inner West, its families, and the diversity of family structures and circumstances that adoption matters involve here.
From Petersham to FletchLaw in Minutes
FletchLaw is just 2.1 kilometres from the centre of Petersham — a six-minute drive along Parramatta Road. We’re not a distant city firm you have to travel to in a crisis. We’re your neighbours in the Inner West, part of the same streets, the same community, and the same daily life that Petersham families know well. When you need us, we’re close.
Serving the Petersham & Inner West Community
Petersham is one of the Inner West’s most distinctive and tightly-knit suburbs — a place where heritage streetscapes, a thriving village atmosphere, and a genuinely diverse community all come together. For families here, home isn’t just a property. It’s a neighbourhood, a school, a set of relationships built over years.
The Former Petersham Fire Station on Parramatta Road is one of the suburb's most recognisable landmarks. Its bold Victorian red brick and heritage bay doors have anchored this stretch of the community for well over a century — a reminder of the deep roots Petersham families have put down here.
All Saints Anglican Church stands as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the Inner West. Its ornate brickwork and commanding roofline have provided a point of quiet continuity for the Petersham community through generations of change.
Petersham Railway Station — with its elegant sandstone building and Victorian platform ironwork — has been connecting this suburb to the rest of Sydney since the nineteenth century. For many families, it's simply part of the daily rhythm of life here.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Book your free, no-obligation consultation today — and find out whether adoption is the right legal step to give your family the permanency and recognition it deserves.