How to adopt Sister's child

[kristik19]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OK

My sister's child is 5 yrs old and has lived with myself and my husband for 4 1/2 yrs. She knows us as her parents(she knows my sister is her birth mother)--we have legal guardianship of her and her mother or father (don't know where he is--hasn't been around for 4 yrs) have never paid toward her support. We would like to know what we need to do to start the adoption process within a family, how much it costs, what all we need to do.

[Gracie3787]

Originally Posted by kristik19

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OK

My sister's child is 5 yrs old and has lived with myself and my husband for 4 1/2 yrs. She knows us as her parents(she knows my sister is her birth mother)--we have legal guardianship of her and her mother or father (don't know where he is--hasn't been around for 4 yrs) have never paid toward her support. We would like to know what we need to do to start the adoption process within a family, how much it costs, what all we need to do.

Adoption laws can be very complicated, especially when one of the parents cannot be located.

To make sure that everything is done correctly, you really need to hire a local attorney, that way it will prevent problems in the future.