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Hi Josie,
My contested adoption I guess is on the high end. We have paid so much for so long that I don't even know the total figure yet - plus it is not yet over so we have more court fees to come. In the last four years I will estimate 50k. But this includes the following:
A developmental psychologist to evaluate our son, our son's pediatrician, a child psychiatrist to evaluate our son and our family, a family and individual counselor. All had to see us several times (self-pay), provide reports for the court, and we had to pay court fees - the judge would not allow ANY of them to testify and we paid a small fortune for them to stand in the hallway for hours. All were to testify on our behalf - none were allowed to.
We also had a number of consultation fees for other attorneys and specialists. For the first part of the contested adoption we paid our attorney 20k. We also had the specialists, etc. After I fired him we began a new phase with a new attorney and paid him each month (that was more than my rent payment each month - in the thousands).
I am guessing we have exceeded 50k at this point (and that is probably on the low end).
Now, having said that, let me also add that the birthmom has NEVER TO THIS DAY asked how our son is doing - AND she was in juvy and could not have taken him so he would have ended up in foster care. That was another motion filed against us - to have him placed in foster care. Lovely system we have here, huh?
As it stands now, if everything were to go perfectly we have two more outstanding motions which we will have to deal with - and that is going to further our expenses.
I wish this money could have gone for a better lifestyle for our son - or his college education. We have been financially devastated. I don't see where our son's best interest is being considered - NO ONE has ever asked how he was doing - nor allowed testimony from expert witnesses regarding him - nor considered the financial devastation this places on us which directly afects our son.
I wish you the very best of luck. Please feel free to PM me any time.
Prayers for you,
Christie
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