What do i have to do to adopt a close friend of mines baby?

Question

a close friend of mine had a baby 3 months ago and she was doing a good job taking care of him, but she used to have a problem with drugs but was clean for a long time. she took good care of the bay for 3 months but now shes back on drugs again and want me and my husband to adopt her baby. what do i have to do to be able to adopt him?

Answer 1

See an attorney, who will help you set everything into place legally.

Don't even try to skip this step because you could end up very broken hearted if the mum decides to take the child back when you have become attached to him.

You need legal structure in place and it will go before a court for finalisation.

Answer 2

Lillie H gave a GREAT answer.

What kind of close friend are you? If anything be this baby's gaurdian until your friend can get clean and sort out her issues. She's probably dealing with some form of post partum depression and using drugs is a way to self-medicate.

HELP HER    adoption in this case seems like a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Answer 3

THIS IS A HARD SUBJECT FOR ANYONE TO TRY AND ANSWER....SOO MANY FACTORS TO GO ON...ONE THIS BABY DIDN'T ASKED TO BE BROUGHT UP BY A DRUGGY....TWO YOUR FRIEND WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND....IN THIS SITUATION THERE WOULDN'T BE A CLOSED OR PRIVATE ADOPTION....SIMPLY B/C YOU KNOW THE PERSON THAT HAS THE BABY YOU WANT TO ADOPT OR HOWEVER THE CASE.....I WOULD SEEK CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE MOTHER TO TAKE THIS BABY AND ADOPT IT. FROM THERE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PARENTING CLASSES FOR FOSTERING FIRST AND THEN GET AN ATTORNEY TO ADOPT THE BABY.....THE ONLY THING IS THAT THIS MOTHER CAN COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS CLEAN AGAIN AND WANT HER BABY BACK AND THEN YOU'LL SEE EACH OTHER IN COURT....SHE WILL TELL THE JUDGE THAT SHE WAS MESSED UP AT THE TIME AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS DOING, THAT YOU PROBABLY FORCED HER TO SIGN HER BABY OVER....THAT SHE IS CLEAN NOW AND BELIEVES THAT HER CHILD SHOULD BE WITH HER.....YOU NEED TO SIT AND EVALUATE EACH POSSIBLE OUTCOME AND THEN DECIDE WHAT IS BEST.....ME PERSONALLY I WOULD TAKE THE CHILD, ADOPT HIM OR HER, AND THEN LEAVE THE COUNTRY..LOL...NEVER LETTING THIS FRIEND KNOW WHERE I AM UNLESS YOU WANT THAT...

Answer 4

A lawyer that specializes in adoption would be a good start. You want to make sure she cant come back -clean and try to take back the baby.

Answer 5

Contact an adoption attorney to complete a private adoption.  You could also go through DHS, but they may not place the child with you.

Answer 6

You can also look into permanent legal guardianship of the child.

Answer 7

my aunt is doing the same thing but its a niece she is trying to adopt.. you will have to have social services doctors .  they check your back ground and your direct family, is your family life good do you work is your house safe, there is alot of people and paper work involved they have to really check you out to see if you are suitable to care for the child, good luck

Answer 8

Try to talk her into getting drug counseling and checking into rehab. Offer to watch her child for her until she can sober up, and let her know that she NEEDS to step up and be this kids mother. She will regret it horribly someday when she realizes she gave her child away, and its highly likely to end the friendship when she either wants her child back or resents you for having him/her. If she is your close friend, I'm sure you will want to do what is best for her and for her child, which is helping her get clean again so she can be a mom. If it fails at the very least when the child grows up and asks why you didn't help his mom keep him, you can say you did.

Answer 9

Why not just take temporary care of him and instead do all you can to help her get clean?  Why take her child away from her forever?

If she was having marital problems, would you offer to take her man off her hands as well?

What a friend.

Answer 10

You have to call an adoption lawyer!or call an adoption agency to handle everything.  I wouldn't call any state agencies.  There is no need to involve them - unless you can't afford the legal fees.  Things will be quicker and go the way you want them with a private adoption.  You are a great friend and soon to be great parent! Good luck.

Answer 11

Find an adoption attorney. They should tell you everything you need to know/do. You'll still need a homestudy.

Answer 12

the laws of adoption vary greatly from state to state contact a lawyer who specializes in adoption the opening conversation is usually free or very reasonable chose to meet with three lawyers and do this immediately if any one found out she was using again you would lose your right to be part of the process because the infant would be placed in the system and placed with foster care hurry perhaps you have the infant already and just need guidance on the formality of the process I hope this is true you need info on a private adoption .love and luck behind you gods grace in front of you

Answer 13

I would contact an Adoption Atty in your area...they will guide you.  You will need a Home Study....the Atty may be able to get you in the right direction with that too.