Adoption of loved one?

Question

My friend has been raising her 9yr old neice she's had her since she was 13 mths old what process can she take without spending alot of money going to an attorney. the mother is absent she has other children that she has not raised.

Answer 1

do you want to adopt me

Answer 2

been there in same situation.we got our neice at 10 wks old and spent almost 7 yrs trying to get her.finally adopted her thoroughly and legally.yes you do love them with same love as others dont you and dont you hate when ppl ask where there mom is?but yes you have to get an attorney.talk to one consultation are usually free.good luck

Answer 3

Why does anybody think they can bypass an attorney?  Unless you are a lawyer, there are very few things you can do RIGHT without the help of an attorney.  However, she could contact CPS and see if she can get a referral to an attorney since otherwise, the child would be in CPS care.

Answer 4

I can't think of any way to avoid going to an attorney for an adoption.  Plus, going through an attorney assures her that everything would be legal and binding.

Answer 5

She can't do it without legal help.  Moms rights would have to be taken away in a court, plus the fathers rights before your friend could adopt the little girl.  That is the only legal way to do it.  Any other way will leave a big opening for mom to come back for the little girl.  What happened to the other kids? Where is the father?

Answer 6

I think it depends on how she came to have custody of her niece.  Did she get removed from the home and the aunt stepped in?  If so, there should be a social worker involved and they can advise her of the steps required for adoption and it should be costly at all.  If there is no social worker, maybe there us still something that Children and Family Services could do to offset some of the costs of adoption.  She should look into the kinds of things that are available for adoptive parents.