Step child adoption in illinois?

Question

I am trying to adopt my twin step daughters. I need some help! Please let me know if you have any good websites or know any information.... Their mother has not had any contact in almost a year and she moved out of state and we don't know exactly where. I want to know how much it costs and what all the process is....

Answer 1

You can file under abandonment since there has been no contact for a year, and as you already found out from speaking to the lawyer you don't need the mother's consent since you do not know where she is.

You will have to publish a public notice in the paper, these usually run for about 30 days with roughly a week alloted after the fact to wait for a response from the mother.  If during those 45 days there is no response from the biological mother at all, the adoption case will continue as though she consented to the stepparent adoption.  If she does respond, she will be given a chance to present her side of the case in court.

Costs range from adoption to adoption.  Many states have a streamlined process when it comes to stepparent adoption, cutting out the need for a homestudy which can be quite pricey.  When a public notice has to be issued, it adds both cost and time to the adoption.  The notice usually starts at around $300 and goes up from there depending on how long the notice is, as well as how long the notice will run in the paper, and how many issues of the paper it will appear in.  

You will need copies of your marriage certificate, the divorce decree and custody papers from the biological parents, and copies of everyone's birth certificates, these can all take some time to aquire, so you will want to order them as soon as you can.  Using an attorney is not necessary, but extremely wise.  Some attorneys have a flat rate for a stepparent adoption, while others still charge by the hour.  Stepparent adoptions normally range anywhere from $1500-to $3000 on average for a non-contested adoption depending on where you live and if your state and county require a homestudy to be done as well as a Guardian Ad Litem to be appointed for the child.

Good luck adopting your girls!  And don't forget to have an adoption party when you are all done!

You can check out the link below for more information on stepparent adoption!

Answer 2

Just a thought....

There are basically two types of adoption in your situation. One is the type of adoption everyone thinks about. However, you may want to think about it. If anything ever happens to your marriage, you would be required to pay child support on the girls. His genetic connection would probably out weigh your adoption, however the court would still have you pay child support to him because of the adoption. When adopting, you are saying these girls are of your flesh and bone.

The secondary type of adoption is where you adopt them in name only. You are their parent for all purposes, but you have no financial obligation to them if something was to happen to your marriage.

Just something to think about for just in case. I'm in no way discouraging you or trying to say anything negative about your marriage or wanting to adopt the girls. Just letting you know some of your options.

As for the newspaper ad, and abandonment, I think it's the best way to go. It may take longer, but in the end I think you'll end up getting there with less problems.  Good Luck to you and your family!

Answer 3

Every state is different but I know some friends of mine had to publish in a newspaper that they planned on adopting the child from a previous relationship for a couple of weeks to give the birth parent time to come out and say no.  Good luck.

Answer 4

I do not know if I can offer any more help.  I can give you the name and phone number of the adoption attorney (in Chicago) my wife and I used.  If you are interested e-mail me.

Answer 5

you need to find out where she is because in order to adopt your step daughters, she has to agree and sign away her parental rights.  contact an attorney, and they can fill you in on all the steps you need to take