[HopefulInTN]

Hi, guys. We got our first placement 2-1/2 months ago, the day we were licensed as foster parents. We are a pre-adoptive home to G. We've had our struggles, but G is our boy. We just heard that the BPs are relinquishing their rights instead of TPR, so it looks like this will happen.

This is our first time to do this. Can you guys share your wisdom about what you wish you had done, what you did that was a good idea, etc (with the adoption process itself)?

Also, do we need a lawyer to adopt our 10 year old? If so, at what point should we retain one? And, what does the lawyer do for us? I have a friend at work who's husband is an adoption attorney, and he does pro bono work for people adopting through the system, so the cost would be negligible for us, thank God!

Thanks for any insight you can give us. We are excited about becoming a family!!!

[akcskye]

Hey there, congratulations!

I can't offer any wisdom or experience regarding your foster child...we were straight foster to adopt...so "foster" was only a technical title that was never used with us...we were the adoptive placement on children who were already TPR'd.

However, on the 10 year old...adopting through the state.

We never needed an attorney until the case was ready to close (finalize the adoption).

Then, we had a meeting with her, gave her our information, the kid's information, etc...and about 2 weeks later, the draft was ready to review, we reviewed it, it was fine, and a court date was set for a month later.

You need the attorney to represent you in the finalization of the adoption...but that's it...at least it was for us.

Best of luck and hope this helped!

Originally Posted by HopefulInTN

Hi, guys. We got our first placement 2-1/2 months ago, the day we were licensed as foster parents. We are a pre-adoptive home to G. We've had our struggles, but G is our boy. We just heard that the BPs are relinquishing their rights instead of TPR, so it looks like this will happen.

This is our first time to do this. Can you guys share your wisdom about what you wish you had done, what you did that was a good idea, etc (with the adoption process itself)?

Also, do we need a lawyer to adopt our 10 year old? If so, at what point should we retain one? And, what does the lawyer do for us? I have a friend at work who's husband is an adoption attorney, and he does pro bono work for people adopting through the system, so the cost would be negligible for us, thank God!

Thanks for any insight you can give us. We are excited about becoming a family!!!

[HopefulInTN]

Thank you, Kristi!

That definitely helped. We are new to this, and just don't know the steps. I appreciate insight from veterans of this process. Hope you and yours have been blessed through this process.