[mandinka]

Hello all. We need help. My niece is pregnant and due to have her baby in February of 2004. She doesn't want to keep the baby. She already has two children that are not with her. She says that she can't take care of herself let alone a baby. She says that since she was supposed to have her tubes tide the last time, this baby must have been sent to us from God. Although we have children from my previous relationships and also my husbands past relationship, we wanted one of our own together. However we haven't been able to conceive, due to my tube blockage. My niece knows that we have been trying and said this baby was meant for us. We just love children but we don't have the funds for all those legal adoption fees. We will even begin with full legal custody, but really want to adopt the baby. We are in Jacksonville, Fl. Can anyone one help us without all of the expensive fees or just give some advice, please.

Thanks.

[Linny]

Seems to me that you'll have to have an attorney; but understand that a relative adoption as you have stated, won't have the fees that non-relative adoption have. I'd suggest going to the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys website....go to the member area, click on FL, and find a member in your area. If you're not satisfied with the first one you call, call another member in FL. The Quad A attorneys keep up on the latest info and are supposed to follow a code of ethics when dealing with adoption.

Best of luck to you and the baby......

Sincerely,

Linny

[Sarah0518]

Since you would be adopting from a relative you probably only need to pay for a homestudy and the lawyer fees to legalize the adoption. Much less expensive than an agency adoption. probaly $4k all told.

I realize $4kcan still seem like a lot of money to come up with though. Did you know you can get a tax credit (upt to $10k) for qualified adoption expenses once adoption is finalized? Can refinance or do you have family willing to spot you the money short term until you can get the tax refund?

Good luck to both you and your neice!