[jhenrie]

I'm wondering if anyone can give me a ballpark figure on what they paid or what they estimate is charged by an attorney for adoptions. We're not going through an agency per se, because we're adopting from foster care. So far, I can't come up with a ballpark figure for planning. Help!

[tgage]

I just adopted my 4 step children (did the work myself) and here's what I can tell you about costs:

$155.00 for the filing fee (plus $4 for each child for vital records fee
$40.00 for each birth certificate.

If the child's parental rights are already terminated then it's pretty much about preparing paperwork and attending a final hearing. (you could ball-park this at $500-$1000 for attorneys fees).

If the child is in foster care, will the state subsidize the legal fees?

Tim

[jhenrie]

Well, they do have a $2000 reimbursement per child ($4000 total in our case), but we spent about $3000 of that on travel. I just had an attorney quote me $1200, though, so I'm just waiting to hear back on whether that is total or per child!

I'd normally consider doing something like this myself. I've helped friends file their own bankruptcies & divorces, but has messed up & backwards as this whole thing has been, I'm too nervous to do it myself.

[jhenrie]

Well....<drumroll>...I just received an email back from the attorney. He's guaranteed a $1200 flat fee to complete the adoption for BOTH girls! I'm SO excited!