|
What you need to do is to check the laws in your state. Most states now have the statutes available online. In our state, it would be under "Probate Law," and you should be able to find all of the information about adoption law.
Then, you need to see what is involved. In our state, no lawyer or agency is necessary. Where the child is a blood relative, no homestudy is necessary. What you essentially need is all of the paperwork completed properly, and that is not too difficult. You file the paperwork with the fees at the probate office, and they process from there. The court will notify everyone of hearings, which will include the birthmother going before the judge, and testifying to her release of all parental rights. The judge will ask her questions, to make certain that she understands what she is doing. He will grant termination of parental rights, and in no less than 30 days (time of appeal), he will grant you an adoption.
Now, do I suggest this? No. This is a complex "transaction," and with the emotions and needs of so many people involved, can cause some real problems, making it necessary to have everything done correctly. A good lawyer is a great resource for this.
Shop around for a good adoption attorney. Basically, all that they will be doing is completing paperwork. Perhaps you can get a better price from one by arranging to do some of the work yourself?
I know that our lawyer bills at $185.00 per hour, with a $3000 retainer, but our adoptions, even from a relative, are anything but simple. However, it is hard to imagine the paperwork from a simple relative adoption that is not contested taking much more than four to five hours, so it might cost you less than $1000.00. There are many ways to pay for this... part time job, sell something, yard sale... use your imagination! This is important enough, and lasts for a lifetime, so you want it done right.
|