[NadaMama]

We're so thrilled that we're finally at the point when we can finalize our precious daughter's adoption.

Our agency has given us the choice to either:

a] hire a lawyer to handle the finalization; or

b] take a finalization course a month from now so we can learn how to process the paperwork ourselves.

Can you please tell me what the pros/cons are of both options? This is a domestic, in-state infant adoption with no complications that we know of.

Thanks!

[Linny]

I have never heard of being able to 'finalize' an adoption on your own! News to us, and we've adopted seven times.

But......I would go through an attorney even so........you just never know what can/could happen....and there would be 'security' to me to know that I had someone representing us who had done many of these before.

Just my two-cents....


Sincerely,

Linny

[tobeafamily]

Ditto to Linny - this is too important to DIY. Adoption laws can be confusing, misleading and complex. I would use an attorney simply to make sure everything was done correctly, filed and processed appropriately, etc.

IMHO

Regina

[bumpkin]

ditto to the others

bumpkin

[DeannRedmiles]

lawyer... this is too important to have some legal b.s. come back to bite you in the rump at a later date.. so .. do it right.. lawyer lawyer lawyer.. I know it costs.. but .. it's worth it ..get one that knows what they are doing re: adoptions..

[BuckarooBanzai]

Use and attorney.

Here the County Attorney's Office has a special division that assists in finalizing Adoptions. Our first Agency used them. The second Agency that used an Attorney that volunteered his services.

[shylagirl]

I agree the adoption laws aren't easy to understand there are so many in & outs don't try to save a couple $ on something so important

[madopt3]

I think it depends on what state you live in. We live in WI and finalized on our own as do most couples. The agency provided all the court documents necessary and the judge would not have allowed the finalization to occur if something had been missing from the paperwork or if something had been handled improperly during the birthparents rights being terminated. I would not have proceeded during the initial phase of birthparents rights being terminated without an attorney. But finalization seemed very straight forward.
Michelle

[LisaCA]

hi,

we have to make this decision too and decided to use an attorney. we really wanted to make sure everything was done precisely. This is not the kind of thing we wanted to cut corners on. so i agree with most of the posters. Spend the money, and hey, the tax credit will help cover the attorney's fees.

good luck!

LisaCA

[MollyinSD]

ditto to others...use a lawyer!

[TSP]

Can anyone give me an idea what the cost should be for an adoption attorney (NJ) for domestic? Does $3500 sound high?
Thanks
tsp

[madopt3]

It depends on what the attorney is handling. If he/she is handling just the finalization it sounds very high. If he/she is handling the termination of parental rights and a court hearing is necessary it sounds about average. I can't speak for NJ though.

[TSP]

We are going through an agency for placement so I'm assuming the attorney will handle finalization only and the agency will take care of the parental issues. I'll have to check on that. Thanks.