Cost of adopting a child from a young mother that you know and have been helping since the baby was born.?

Question

This young lady wants us to raise her baby since she is too young. We have been helping her out with the baby since it was born. How much does it cost us to adopt this baby if the mother chooses us to take over caring for her baby? Do we need a lawyer?

Answer 1

Court fee and lawyer fees then, of course, whatever the mother asks for.  You'll also have to have the father sign over rights or if no father is known put an add in the paper.

Answer 2

Adoption attornies in my area have a retainer of about $3,500 and costs about $250 per hour on top of that. If the mother agrees, you will have to go thru the background check process, home visit and the basics of court. Because you are not terminating her rights, she is willingfully giving them up, the process should be smooth, as long as everything checks out correctly. Be prepared to have a VGAL (volunteer Gaurdian Ad Litem) or GAL by cost as well. You do need a lawyer for the adoption.

Answer 3

If she is just willing to give you the baby then all you need is a lawyer and their fees vary depending on the situation so the best thing for you to do is to just call one and make an appointment so he or she can look at your situation and they can give you a price of the adoption process.

Answer 4

Gaia Raiin - You are wrong.  Adoptees do not lose their rights, especially if the birth mother approves and wants an involvement in the child's life.  You just make it an open adoption, but you need to have a legal adoption done to protect everyone's rights and emotions.  It can tear you apart to adopt(?) a child only to have the birth mother just change her mind and walk off with him.  A lawyer can tell you and the birth mother where you both stand and you can spell out what involvement you and the birth mother decide that she should have in the child's life as well as the responsibilities, etc.  You definitely need a lawyer.  I have an adoped child and he has a birth certificate just like anyone else.  It just has my name listed as his mother.  This was a closed adoption but, when he is an adult, he can find her if he chooses and if she chooses to be found.  She did leave a note saying that she would be open to that someday and I have told him that.  Also, health records etc. are kept by the agency in charge of the adoption or by the lawyer, or they will be given to the adoptive mother when the adoption is complete.  They are not a secret if the adoption is done correctly.

Answer 5

it doesn,t cost to adopt a child, if you are going to care for and bring up this child you should all do this legally as it will be better for you and the child . see a solicitor now.

Answer 6

You will need a homestudy and a lawyer.  This is called an "identified adoption".  Since you have been helping with expenses since the baby was born, you will need to do what is commonly referred to as an agency adoption.  Basically, they want to make sure that you are not being dishonest and paying her to make an adoption plan.  We completely a similar type of adoption in the past year, excluding financial help to the birth mother, your costs should be under $12k (varies by state).  You will get all/most of this back next year as a tax credit.

Answer 7

Yes, all private adoptions require the services of a lawyer. The cost will depend on lawyers fees, and how many of her expenses (medical, legal) you agree to cover.

Answer 8

you will need a lawyer. And it costs just about the same to adopt a friends child as it does a stranger. You must still follow your states rules on adoption homestudies and background checks, possibly some classes.

Answer 9

I'm with MamaKate here.  It sounds like this young mom is going through some temporary stuff (youth doesn't last forever...eventually, she'll be old enough to parent her own child), and is seeking a permanent solution.  Guardianship would be in the best interests of the child.  When a child is adopted, s/he loses his/her rights.  His/her original birth certificate is locked away, and they are not able to access it without permission from their parents, which is ridiculous (no other citizens have to get permission to have their own birth certificate).  Some adoptees have had trouble getting health care or passports because they are not able to access their original birth certificates.  There are many reasons NOT to go through with adoption in this case.

If you and the child's mother decide that a permanent solution to this temporary problem, and her child's loss of rights, history, heritage, etc. are worth it, then yes, you'll need a lawyer.

Answer 10

If you and the child's mother have both decided that adoption is the best option, then yes, you would need to see a lawyer for the adoption.

Answer 11

It depends on lawyer fees and court costs and if the mother wants you to pay for any of her fees.  It is usually anywhere from 8,000.00 to 40,000.00 in the united states for a child being adopted that is also from the united states.

Also there are special loans you can get that are for parents who are adopting only and you can get a tax break of up to 11,000.00 on your tax return for adopting. Your lawyer will be able to tell you more about that.

Answer 12

Why can't you continue to help and support this family as is? Do you have to sever this child's relationship from it's mother? What about guardianship?

ETA: Just wondering why "too young" is a good reason to legally sever a relationship? Does she think she's too young or did someone tell her that? Will she never mature? What's wrong with guardianship? Is it not "real" enough? I get the feeling she hasn't really said she wants to adopt or why would the "if she chooses" be the last sentence? How have you been helpng her? BTW guardianship is easier and less expensive for you as well as keeping the child's history legally in tact. It seems like alot of people only want to help if they can say "it's mine". I don't get why adoption always has to be the answer...