How do you do an adoption on your own without an attorney?
Monday, August 10th, 2009 at
11:14 am
My husband wants to adopt my 14 year old son, his biological father is all for it too. We really do not have the 4000 dollars to pay an attorney. I have heard of people doing it themselves. Can Xenical anyone tell me how this is done, and what we have to do to get started on it? The state we live in is Louisiana.
Thanks!!
Go to a law library and look for materials on adoption in Louisiana. You will want "Continuing Legal Education" or "CLE" materials. Look for a loose leaf binder that was intended to be used at a seminar. The materials must be current and for your state. CLE materials should have both a good explanation–read carefully– of what to do and the forms you’ll need to do it.
You, of course, do this at your own risk. There is always a possibility that the law just changed and you botch the notice or something and make the adoption vulnerable to attack should the father change his mind in a couple of years. But if you are careful and read carefully it should be doable.
I did my own in another state, but I’m an attorney–albeit one who does not practice that type of law.
Google Louisiana adoption law and about the 3rd site down will lead you to the right laws. Stepparent adoptions are really easy and you might be able to get an atty to do it for less than $4,000.
Because the natural father agrees to the adoption, this should be a relatively simple process. You should call around and find an attorney that will do it for less than $4,000.00 That seems a bit high for an agreed adoption. If that does not work, you can find the forms online. I would look to findlaw and nolopress to see if they have anything. If not, I found this pay site that will give you the forms for $95.00
http://www.rapidlaw.net/adoption.html
A local attorney really is the best way to go if you can though. Again, I would make some calls, explain that it is not contested, and try to get a lower fee.
If your all in agreement, then just turn over the kid . I see no reason to involve an attorney. Thats insane that an Attorney would even be invloved. in your situation.