[tas_saenz]

My cousin and I were raised together as sisters (non-legal gaurdianship) our whole lives.
Now she and her husband are having a baby and is not ready they have 2 already. we are more than happy to adopt her baby but we want to keep cost down for home visit legal fees ect.

Can I do a relative adoption how does that work

she isnt my legal sister but she is my sister our wholel ives

CALifornia

[mom2boyz]

I'm not sure how California laws work with relative adoption. I'm in IL and don't have to do home study. Our adoption (adopting my sister's baby) will only cost us around $1000.

I would post under the California adoption section and see if anyone there knows for sure. Or you can get right to the point by contacting an adoption attorney in your state. They'll be able to tell you everything you need to know. Good luck!!!!

[savoy6]

Hi! I am also adopting a relative. They say its one of the easiest ways to adopt and the least expensive. Contact the California Department of Social services-Adoption specialist. They will send you all the paperwork you will need to file and can offer general advice. You do not neccesarily need a lawyer. Thats up to your paticular cirmcumstances. You will have to pay $1250 for the homestudy, background checks and all the other stuff the state will want you to do. You will probably also have a couple of hundred dollars in court filing fees.

Save all you receipts and keep track of all your adoption expenses because you have to file them with the court and you also will need them for your adoption tax credit.

The hospital she delivers at (in California) will have a HOSPITAL RELEASE AGREEMENT which will allow the baby to be discharged to you. Once the baby is in your home you file the paperwork with the court. It has to be done in a certain order and the packet the social services sends you will outline this. When you file the initial paperwork you will be assigned a case number and the adoption process begins. If everything goes smoothly it takes about 6 mos. to finalize.

You will have 2 homevisits. 1 soon after you are assigned a case number and again before the finalization. You and your husband will have to have a physical and social services will want verifications of income. They will probably also want to talk to the children already living in your home.

If you can't afford the $1250 charge for the homestudy, I have been told that it can be made in installments or even reduced. We haven't filed yet so I don't know if that is accurate.

Many blessings to you and your family. Please privately message me if you need any further info. I would be glad to help answer any questions.