[mrsvaldez]

Hello!

Has anyone had experience adopting through DSS but having an attorney facilitate it? The attorney (who is friend of my sisters) helps place children through DSS and she told us we could use an attorney (and pay her legal fees) or try and do it on our own.

I am just wondering how the process works, if it is better to have the attorney to guide you, etc.

Thanks!
Sharon

[mrskt]

As an adoption specialist, I'm aware of a few that have been done in my region in the past few years. Typically, in Arkansas at least, you still work with the state workers for placement and the 6 month period required before finalization, but then can use a private attorney and have the adoption finalized through that atty instead of going through DHS court. The adoption unit usually has to sign off on jurisdiction for that to happen.

HTH,
Katy