[luvmyangel72301]

My neice (brothers daughter) gave us her baby girl almost a year ago, and I seem to be getting the run around. First I was told we needed to be certified then I called someone about a homestudy and she said I had to call the county attorney (Pinal county) before I did anything. I had an appt with her for March 4 but had to reschedule because I was close to giving birth to our new baby (born March 6) She finally called me the other day then asked if it was our neice we were adopting (I had told her before that we want to adopt my neices baby) so I said, well great neice. She tells me she can't help until we are certified, and said it would be about $1,000 or more. Why does it make a difference if it's my neice or great neice? I'm not sure of what we need to do to get certified. Someone told me the family court could certify us with little or no cost. Is that true? If anyone has adopted within the family, please let me know what things need to be done. We want this to be done and over with because our little girl had a rough start (my neice gave her to someone else at first who wasn't taking care of her so neice took her back) with us being the 3rd (and final!) home she has had. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Mary

[buckdono]

Mary,
I don't have any experience with family adoption, but you might try contacting an adoption attorney in your area. The attorney we are working with in Pima County does lots of family adoptions and I think the cost is very low. He didn't charge us anything for meeting with him and answering some of our questions. At the very least they could give you the straight scoop on the process.


http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/states/arizona.htm


Good luck!

[buckdono]

Mary,
Sorry the link didn't work before. Here's the web page for Arizona members of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. They are listed by city.

http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/states/arizona.htm

[JadedSaint]

Mary, I am also in Pinal County. I am doing foster care adoption and not family adoption. But one thing I do know is that you must be a certified adoptive parent, regardless of family relation or not. It's an unfair system, IMO, but it is the law. Please speak to an adoption attorney who knows the law. If you can get certified quickly, that little baby can be permanantly yours sooner! Best of luck to you!