[Jurcelay]

We are in the process of an adoption in the state of California. I need some help in getting a ball park figure of attorney's fees for the adoption. If anyone has finilized and adoption in CA, please let me know what the fees are (around, it doesn't have to be exact).

Thank you so much for your help.

[FamilyBound]

Julie, I'm not familiar with the attorney's fees, but as another Californian, I just wanted to say "hi"! We're in Ventura county!

[Jurcelay]

Hi, thank you. We actually live in Louisiana, but the birth mom lives in California. We need to retain an attorney there, but we are trying to figure out what the fees are. I am very happy to be able to meet new "online friends" here. Please feel free to e-mail me so we can exchange stories :-)

dbayou1gal@aol.com

[rkpoe]

We are adopting from California as well. I got names off the internet and called about 12 attorneys. The average cost for them is $3,000.00.

[Jurcelay]

Thank you for your response. We were got a referral from the agency we are working with and the atty. gave us a fee between 1,500 and 2,000. So I guess that's not too bad.

Thank you so very much for your help. I would like to hear how everything develops for you. God speed on your adoption :0)

[USMCCOUPLE]

What attorneys are you guys looking at? The attorneys I have seen are like 8,000 at the small end!

[kronschobl]

We live in California and adopted in California - our legals were $3,000.

[puppiesmom]

We just met with our attorney yesterday, and our legal fees will be aound $2,000 (includes birth mother's fees too); this does not include the homestudy fees or filing fees though. All totalled, it will be about $4,500.00. Hope this helps!!

[reneeof3]

For a professional adoption attorney (AAAA member), we paid just over $4,000 to handle an out of state adoption and termination of birthfather's rights. I'm in Northern California and can recommend her if you'd like her name. She's great.

[supertrev]

Hi, Read the book adopting in america. It talks a lot about what standard fees should be.

[jaredsmom]

You guys are really scaring me. We have just successfully been placed with the most wonderful 11 year old boy possible.

On May 28th we go to court to terminate all parental rights and begin the "official" adoption proceedings.

I had thought our only fees would be the filing of the final documents, etc. (They cannot even locate the parents, since this was a neglect/abandon case, so we won't have any trouble there.)

What other fees are in store for us?

Maureen T
Jared's New Mom

[Jurcelay]

If you are adopting through the state (Social Services) no other fees will be involved. The fees we are talking about are for independent adoptions. Don't sweat it. You won't have any other expenses other than the filing fees. God bless you with your adoption, please do let me know when it all happens!

[april*rain]

Hi Julie,

We are adopting a baby boy due to be born August 1 The birthparents are in CA (San Jacinto) and we are in NJ. We have paid $2500 to our NJ attorney, $2500 for a CA attorney, and $1000 so far for our homestudy.

Hope this info helps.
~Lisa

[mrsallen]

Hi, Im new to all of this and I was wondering if you can give me a little info on your steps you took? It seems you have went a cheat route and I'd like to know how I'm also from cali I live in Stockton. Please if you can I'd be so happy ,Yhank You mrsallen

[jaredsmom]

Today is the most marvelous day! We finalized our adoption this morning, and Jared is now ours forever and ever.

Our attorney was incredible -- while we were waiting to go into the chamber, several parents sought him out and thanked him for all his help. He says his practice is about 90% adoptions and he would like it to be 100%, and I can see why. The judges all trust him, and he is knowledgeable enough to see his way through just about any snafu.

And yes, we know that from experience, because at the last minute the judge decided to second guess the social workers' home study and reports and the physician's reports, and wanted to make sure we were "healthy" enough to raise our 11 year old. Mark kept us informed of every step, cued us on how to do the various required things, and kept us in the loop totally -- all for the same fee quoted at the beginning ($300).

I know we "cheated" since we got Jared through being foster parents, but there was still a lot more work involved than I thought, and I am sure glad Mark was there.

So if you have a great attorney on your side, you WILL prevail and get your child (and quicker than if you get a "public defender" type assigned by the Children's Bureau.

Color me happy on this first official day of motherhood!

Maureen Thomas
Los Angeles