How do we go about adopting a friends baby?

rachelrmf@sbcglobal.net

You will need to get a lawyer. the lawyer will set you up with someone that can do the homestudy that you will have to have. You will have to go by both states to adopt, so both states laws will apply. This girl sounds like she is young and should get some counciling, This will formost benifit her in makeing her choice as well as benifit you and your husband. If this is something she can not go through with it is best to find out soon. Please always understand that the mom can, and has the right to change her mind at anytime, and in some states up to 6 months after the adoption. Be ready for this decision just incase, and never let her know just how sad it would make you. Always support her. Your lawyer will file a petition for adoption in both states, you will start your home study ( this can take anywhare from 2-8 months to complete), After your homestudy you will all go to court and the mom will sign over her rights( the father needs to do so as well), but this does not complete the adoption, just starts it. After the baby is born than the mother will sign a release form of adoption, and this is whare each state gets a bit different after this some states allow mom so much time to change her mind, yes this is sad for you but this is a life time decision for her and is a good way to prevent a possabile bad choice made by mom. Check both states laws on what you are allowed to purchase for the mother, most states concider it to be purchaseing the baby or black mail to give the mother money or other assistance. Do not go through an agency most are just ripoffs who guilt moms into completing the process of giveing their child up, and when your forced into something like that it's bad for all involved. Treat this as aprivate adoption, and get mom a lawyer for her bennifit as well as a seperate lawyer for you. Hope all this helps!

magic pointe shoes

=o/ I know you are excited and all, but you have to realize that this is going to be the saddest lowest point of other's lives. It is essentially important that first and foremost you do not think this baby is yours until relinquishment is done and the revocation period is over. Until then, that baby has a mother and it is not you.

I'm sorry if this is a downer, but it is up to you to treat these friends ethically.

You need to give her this booklet about "what you should KNOW if you are considering adoption for your baby."
http://www.cubirthparents.org/edd/index.php?id=1

And you need to read this report on safeguarding the rights and well being of the birthparents in the adoption process.
http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2006BirthparentStudyrevised07.pdf

Also, just because everyone seems to call expectant parents birth parents. Do not do this. And, do not attempt to bypass the rights of the father to parent his child.

Lily

Contact a lawyer and please have the bio father agree also, otherwise you may be in for problems down the line. The truth is, he has first dibs on the baby. It is his as much as it is hers.

ladybmw1218

You still need a homestudy and attorney involvement. The mother should have her own attorney, and counseling as well. Some states require an agency no matter what.

Since you are military check with them first, I believe there are different rules and resources available.

Jaime m

You should be able to just hire a lawyer but you may need a home study as well depending on your state laws. If you consult with an attorney they should be able to tell you for sure. It shouldn't be too hard., Good Luck

C Wood

I doubt that where you live is a factor.
You need to talk immediately to an adoption attorney. Only an attorney can tell you what it would cost for his/her services and all the other things involved.

See if the military has someone who can help you as this would help keep the cost down.
cw

Helena B

make sure its an open adoption and let the mother see her baby. your child will love u more if u do the right thing n have an open adoption.or ur friends wont b ur friends anymore

melissa

You will get all the information you need from a lawyer, so start there.

Good luck!

Gnanesh B

yes it good to take advice of lawyer first .after taking advice from the lawyer it is better to take a new born .Because it good for both child and adopted parents

barb m

you're right to hire lawyers both for the both of you and the baby's mother and have them draw up legal papers allowing her to let you adopt her baby safely.

good luck

sweetie

Its should be a problem since the mother and father of the child have to just sign the rights over to you and then appear before the court to finalized everything. My aunt did the same thing with a family member and it just took a couple signatures and about 10 minutes in front of the judge. That was by NC rules though. Each state is different. You should see a lawyer but FYI the legal can take care of the paper work for you can don't charge! IM also military and my husband had them do the paper work for him to adopt my daughter. Good luck!

also you may want to tell her to not have to father sign the birth certificate if he's not willing to sign the rights over. Otherwise you will have to fight for his rights.

Frank G

I suggest a lawyer to sort things out. I personally think its a bad idea that can lead to a friendship being destroyed. Id think since the child hasnt been born, it could be just as easy (with a lawyer) to get ur names put on the birth certificate.

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