[beterri]

I need information on Liberian adoptions quick!!!!

I work for a refugee service organization and 1 of the single men brought a son with him (2 1/2 years old).

He was neglecting his son and now has given custody to my husband and I. He wants us to adopt him, but we need to know quickly in case he or the child's mother (still in Liberia) changes their mind. As it is now, we are about to have to start paying for daycare for the child and we don't want to do that in case they change their minds all of the sudden.

We don't have legal guardianship yet (though we are struggling to find out how to get it) and want to also find out the costs of adopting him directly.

Because he and his father are still classified as refugees and the mother is out of country, this is still considered a foreign, Liberian, adoption.

thank you for any help you may be able to give.

[secintron]

I would contact Sherry at www.angels-haven.com
She should beable to help you.

[j_golda]

Also, Judy Elkins with Plan international may be able to point you in the right direction.

http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/contact.html

[lishop]

You need a Liberian attorney regardless of which route (if an agency helps you or not). Call Patty Anglin with Acres of Hope (just search Acres of Hope on the net). She has the contact of an awesome attorney in Liberia who is very influential and can make things happen fast. Adoption is through the ministry of health, I believe the official INS rules state the parents can't have had contact with the child for 6 months before they're eligible for US visas. (We brought our 2 1/2 year old daughter home from Liberia through PLAN 6 months ago.)

Melissa

[j_golda]

Hi Mellissa,

My husband called PLAN about the 'no contact with birth parents for 6 months' clause. They had never heard of it before. Where can I find official word on this information?