How to Handle an Adoption on Your Own
To handle your own adoption you need to understand your state's laws. Obtain the forms from your local court and ask for assistance in completing them.
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Things You'll Need
- Clothes
- National Adoption Directories
- Adoption Announcements
- Adoption Forms
- Beds
- Bedsheets
- Chidren's Toys
Instructions
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Understand that the easiest type of adoption to handle yourself is a stepparent adoption. Agency adoptions will probably require you to hire an attorney. Private adoptions can be handled on your own.
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Find out what the adoption law and requirements are in your state.
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Get a book about adoptions in your state.
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Determine which court handles adoptions in your state. It may be a family court, a surrogate's court or another type of court. If you don't know, call the county clerk's office and ask.
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Obtain the forms needed for the adoption. You can get these from the court clerk of the court that will hear the case.
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Ask the court personnel to help you complete the papers if you don't understand them, or hire an attorney for an hour or two to explain it to you.
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Have all the necessary information available. You will need copies of the adoptive parents' birth certificates, work and address histories, social security numbers and other documents.
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Obtain any consents that are necessary, such as those of the biological parents.
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Complete the forms and make any changes requested by court personnel. Be pleasant and patient with court personnel. They are there to help you, but are also very busy.
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Keep copies of everything you submit in case things are misplaced.
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Avoid being surprised or offended when a background check, fingerprints or a home inspection are requested. The court has to make sure that you can be proper parents.
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Be honest and open with the judge, social workers and any other people involved in your case. They want the adoption to happen, but must follow a procedure.
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Find out from the court clerks when your adoption will take place, if any testimony must be taken and what will be required of you at the court appearance.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan an adoption celebration to mark this important event in your child's life.
Remember that your adopted child will be your child in the same way as if you were the biological parents. You are responsible for supporting the child and can obtain custody if there is a divorce. Your child will be able to inherit from you when you die.
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Comments
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Feb 02, 2006
Consider open adoption. Open adoption, in which the birth parents may select the adoptive family and sometimes have contact with the child afterward, is healthier for everyone involved. The birth parents will be satisfied that they made the correct choice, and the adoptive parents will have access to the medical information necessary to raise their child. The level of contact the birth parents have with the child can vary. It may be the exchanging of photos, e-mails, and/or letters, or having more direct contact, such as telephone calls, or in some cases, getting together on occasion. -
Feb 02, 2006
Consider open adoption. Open adoption, in which the birth parents may select the adoptive family and sometimes have contact with the child afterward, is healthier for everyone involved. The birth parents will be satisfied that they made the correct choice, and the adoptive parents will have access to the medical information necessary to raise their child. The level of contact the birth parents have with the child can vary. It may be the exchanging of photos, e-mails, and/or letters, or having more direct contact, such as telephone calls, or in some cases, getting together on occasion.
