[mama2one]

Hello all, I have posted here before with general questions and things because my husband and I are still trying to get all our ducks in a row, so to speak. My question though today, I need some real help on.

A good friend and coworker who knows that we are thinking about adoption approached me today about a 2 month old baby girl. My friend's sister-in-law in Michigan has a cousin who is left alone with this 2 month old. The dad is only 19, the mother is younger than that. Mom knew she couldn't be a mother, the baby was a "suprise". She left the baby with the 19 year old dad and legally signed away her rights. This young boy has now decided he can't work and care for a baby on his own and is thinking about adoption and had mentioned it to my friend's sister in law.

The sister-in-law called my friend who mentioned me and my husband and told her we would probably want to adopt if he decided to do so, but that it had to be all legal thru an attorney.

Now the questions, is this what is called a private adoption? How much do legal fees cost? Which states laws do we abide by concerning him changing his mind, His in Michigan or Ours in Kentucky? And what are those laws? Do we still need a homestudy, etc? Has anyone else got experience with this?

Help!!!! I know this is a lot of information and we are still not really started with any type of adoption processes. This may not even happen, he may be a strong young man who raises his daughter on his own and does a good job. I don't know but it is so strange that for two weeks I have dreamed, every single night, about having a little girl running thru our house.

Advice, comments, everything appreciated!

TIA
Kyna

[apetry26]

I'm sorry I can't answer your questions only to say that you probably should talk to a good adoption attorney who can answer those questions. Also, you should talk to the parents of the child and see what their plan is. I had a similar situation when I first started thinking about adoption. It didn't work out for us because of reasons that I can't explain right now. So, good luck to you.

[blessedbybug]

My only advice would be to find a good adoption attorney in your state. He/she would be able to advise you regarding the laws about birthparent rights, etc... in each state. It would be a private adoption and again, regarding the homestudy, you would need to find out what the courts require for this kind of placement.