Hello:
One of my employees has children by her now husband and former husband. Her present husband wants to adopt her two children from her former husband. The biological Father is willing to relinquish his rights.

She wants to draw up the papers without an Attorney because of the cost.

If she can do , whether a good idea or not where do you get the proper forms?
She was told it would cost $5,000 at least to go through an attorney and she cannot afford this.

Thanks,
jobladyjudy

s_cianci

I'm not so sure that an uncontested adoption should cost $5000. At $250 per hour, you're talking 20 hours worth of work! It shouldn't take that much time to draft up a paper, have the concerned parties sign it and file it with the court. Maybe half that amount at best. Now, if the adoption were going to be contested and involve multiple court hearings, that'd be a different story. Have her talk with an actual family lawyer. Most will do free or low-cost initial consults, at which time (s)he can quote a fairly reasonable estimated cost.

Fr_Chuck

I would shop around for another attorney, it should be much less for a non contested adoptoin.

macksmom

I agree...if the bio father is consenting it shouldn't cost too much...and its worth it to not have to go through all the hassle yourself, and to make sure you have all the correct papers, and they are all filled out and filed correctly.

But to answer the question, she could call the court house. They usually have websites in which she would be able to download all the forms. Sometimes the public library, in the reference section, will have the information she needs as well

proudmom

What state do they live in? Some big attornies will do this for free. I had an attorney do it for free in Indiana stating that they seldome get happy cases. Try to call around or better yet...write some letters to big attornies. They can have the new attornies in their offices do the paperwork and the rest is simple.

Fr_Chuck

My cousin in MO is doing a very simular thing, thier attorney fee is going to be about 800 dollars, ( they are of course complaining about that price also)