I would like to give a couple I know custody of my child. How do I go about that with out using a lawyer?

Question

Is there any forms I can just fill out and have signed by all parties? I don't want to get a lawyer or go through an agency.

Answer 1

You don't have to pay for an attorney in the case of adoption. If the couple isn't willing to foot the bill, SOMETHING IS WRONG AND YOU DON'T KNOW THEM AS WELL AS YOU THINK YOU DO.

If you care for this child in the very, very, least.... get away from those people. They may seem very nice, but you could get in A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE FOR DOING THAT. They could be pedophiles or sell your baby to who knows what.

WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO USE AN AGENCY? THIS MAKES NO SENSE.

Answer 2

No you need to go through an attorney because your rights have to be terminated in Court, and so do the birthfather's.

It is NOT a legal adoption until both of these terminations have taken place.  It is then risky to all concerned.  If done properly, the child will know security.  Otherwise, it may be a temporary thing, which is not what you are obviously wanting for your child.

You can also contact an adoption agency, who can do what is called an "identified adoption", which means that you as the birthmother already have the couple for your baby.  But then they can do all the paperwork and the couple can pay them for the termination hearings, birthfather work, etc.

Answer 3

Contact a lawyer.....Have this couple pay for the attorney to handle everything.  You need proper counseling on your rights and their rights in regards to something this big.  Your baby is not a pet or a house that can just transfer hands with a few signatures(I am sure this can be done, but not advisable)....There are things they will have to do to be considered good enough to care for your baby.  Just you trusting them is not enough.

Answer 4

Yes there are forms such as this.  I know here where I live a local business store sold them they were right along with the home wills, divorce kits, etc.  I would call around to a couple places and ask.  I know they are there because a family with a student in my class used one to give custody to the grandparents.  I do however think they are time sensitive, like only good for a year at a time!

******Why in the world would I get a thumbs down when I simply answered the question that was asked?  She did not ask how I felt about it she simply asked if it is possible.  So why to I get a negative for answering the question.?.?.?.?

Answer 5

Don't know where you live.  Boy, what a big decision to make without any proper counselling or help.  Do you really know the couple properly?

How do you know that these people are not going to sell on the child in the illegal adoption/selling trade?  Where will it end up?

Are there any Community Centres you could go to to get proper help.  Counselling.  Legal advice.

I hope these people are not nuts or crazies for your childs sake.   If you want to give the child up just contact a doctor who will be able to refer you to the right people to help you through the process.

Much safer.

Answer 6

Are you wanting to give another legal custody/guardianship of your child or let them adopt your child?  Because there is a difference.  Legal custody is reversible, adoption is not.

Either way, you will need to have a lawyer and a court get involved.  This is not only to protect you, the other couple, but most importantly your child.

I agree that you should seek counseling before making such a decision.

I wish you the best.

Answer 7

You need an attorney at least to ensure you file every thing correctly, follow all state requirements, and will have to go before a judge as well, I believe. They will want to make sure you are not being coerced or paid. Also, some states may require criminal background checks on the new guardians even if they aren't adopting.

You don't have to relinquish all parental rights as in an adoption to have them named legal guardians, so an agency wouldn't be necessary.

If you want them to adopt the child, then you have to have an attorney. Transferring all parental rights, permanently, is serious business and can't be left up to whims and legal forms bought online!

Answer 8

You do not always need a lawyer to go about this process. Your first phone call should be to your counties Family Court. They can advice you as to what petitions need to be filed. Also ask them if there is a mediation agency in your county. If so, you may be able to use the mediation center and not have to even go in front of a judge (your mediation advocate does that for you).

Things to consider: do you want to terminate your rights so that they can adopt your child? Do you want to give them temporary custody? Do you still want visitation rights to your child?

If all you want is them to have temporary custody with you being able to regain custody at a later point, then depending on the laws in your state it can be as simple as signing a notarized agreement that they will have custody until such a date. You will be responsible to pay them child support.

If you want to give them full custody (or share joint custody) and have visitation with the child then you will need to file a voluntary custody petition. You may be able to request the paperwork and complete it yourself, or look in to the mediation center that I mentioned before. Again, you may be responsible for child support payments. But, you do have the option of filing to regain custody in the future (though this may be difficult depending on the length of time...you would need a lawyer for this).

If you want to terminate your rights so that they can adopt your child, you have two options. Your local child services or social services typically can assist you in filing to terminate your rights when you have a suitable family for the child to go to. You can also request the petition from your local Family Court and complete it yourself or look at mediation or a court appointed attorney. It will then be the responsibility of the other family to file a custody and adoption petition. They made wish to secure their own lawyer to do that. They can also be the ones to petition for your righs to be removed. You would simply need to agree to their terms.

Best of luck

Answer 9

you absolutely need a lawyer. and if for some reason you live in a state that allows you to sign away your rights to your children without a lawyer, you should still use a lawyer. this is a huge deal and you need to be sure it is handled correctly. You don't need to spend lots of money using a lawyer, especially if you ahve worked out all the details but, this kind of thing should never  be done among friends without legal advice and the proper channels.

Answer 10

You really need to go through the proper channels. I know of a number of couples who have adopted children through all the proper channels and were

still concerned the mother could change her mind. Or the father could come into it and decide to change his mind. If you were to sign a paper and get the father

to sign a paper and get it notarized, maybe that would work, too. On the paper you would have to swear to give up all rights from this time forward. That could be a way. Just thinking of ways that might help. The best of everything to you.

Answer 11

dont do it that way. because in order for someone to get custody of your child you have to pretty much abandon the child and also it makes you look like a loser. you will regret this whole mess. it messes you up for the rest of your life!!!! you will be depressed and crazy and it changes you!!! if you dont want to be the same person as you are now then go ahead and give the child up.  but remember my words. REGRET SUX