[bellamae]

TPR was accomplished for our foster son yesterday. He has been in our home 15 months (since birth). At the trial, it was made clear that we are the potential adoptive home. (TPR was accomplished through mediation with the biological family with the assurance that the child would stay with us and be adopted by us.)

Can anyone explain to me what would happen next? I know that the paperwork is being set up in the adoption group, and that will be done within a couple of days, and after that we need to file something. An attorney has agreed to represent us through the adoption proceedings, so we'll have her support, but I'm just curious now as to what I should be doing.

[bethy724]

If possible I would wait to sign the "intent to adopt" until he is 2 years old -he may qualify for assistance which includes college tuition (if he is a minority).

[texastanya]

For us, tpr was signed February 06 (due to mediation). It took FOREVER for the county to get all of their paperwork together. Our boys status changed from "foster placement" to "adoptive placement" at the end of July '06, and we FINALLY got to court for the adoption in Sept. '06.

If your child qualifies for subsidy, you'll be filling out paperwork for that prior to the "adoptive placement", and the state will contact you regarding the "negotiation" of the subsidy, if appicable. (if your child does qualify for subsidy, you should know that the "negotiation" is not really a negotiation - they call and say I'll give you X amount, with sort of a "take it or leave it" attitude.)

The county we adopted from required a fingerprint/background check through the State. Our attorney mailed us the forms, we went to our local police department for the finger printing, and then we mailed them off to the state. I think that was about $50, or so.

Oh, we had to pay the attorney. I think it was around $1,500 for the both of ours. But, the state reimbursed all of our costs (including the fingerprinting costs.)

Hope this helps!
T