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  #1  
Old 11-20-2008, 10:40 AM
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How is the best way to adopt a Stepchild

My husband very much would like to adopt my Twelve year old daughter. I am wondering if it is best to go through an attorney or is it possible to file with the court on your own.
  #2  
Old 11-20-2008, 10:54 AM
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Why didn't you post your state?
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  #3  
Old 11-20-2008, 10:55 AM
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You will need the services of an attorney. Paternity will have to be established for Dad (if it's not already established) and he will have to approve of a TPR for this to work. If Dad is deceased, things will be a little different.
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  #4  
Old 12-08-2008, 02:04 PM
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step parent adoption

Quote:
Originally Posted by jbilyeu2 View Post
My husband very much would like to adopt my Twelve year old daughter. I am wondering if it is best to go through an attorney or is it possible to file with the court on your own.
I am going through the same situation right now. My husband wants to adopt my son. After contacting expensive attorneys, I called my county probate court and found that we can do this adoption process on our own. However, you have to know the names of the forms you need, which can easily be found online.
  #5  
Old 12-08-2008, 02:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amandagarrido View Post
I am going through the same situation right now. My husband wants to adopt my son. After contacting expensive attorneys, I called my county probate court and found that we can do this adoption process on our own. However, you have to know the names of the forms you need, which can easily be found online.


Thanks, newbie.

You've managed to disrespect all of the good and valid advice we give in the Adoption Forum.

Good job. SUCH a good job, in fact, that we shall feel no need to help YOU with any legal problem YOU might have.

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  #6  
Old 12-09-2008, 09:43 PM
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The first step no matter what state you live in is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, an attorney.

this is one situation where, in the end it might be possible to do the final work without a lawyer but ONLY a lawyer can tell you that.

If you screw up one little thing, you can end up with a FRAUDULENT adoption.

Some things are worth thier price in gold, and adoption is one of them.

Get a consult with a family law attorney first.
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  #7  
Old 12-09-2008, 10:31 PM
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Me and my husband are going through the step parent adoption process as we speak. It was easy for me though because we were all in agreement, we just signed the official papers today. You need an attorney though but you can download the paper work on line as mentioned in the other posts. It gets costly when there is someone who is unwilling to sign papers, depending on how long you have been married and the state laws you may have to have a home study done and that costs money as well. I was lucky enough that my husband and I have been married for over five years so we did not hve to have a home study done, we live in NC. Best of luck!
  #8  
Old 12-10-2008, 09:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by enjmabe View Post
Me and my husband are going through the step parent adoption process as we speak. It was easy for me though because we were all in agreement, we just signed the official papers today. You need an attorney though but you can download the paper work on line as mentioned in the other posts. It gets costly when there is someone who is unwilling to sign papers, depending on how long you have been married and the state laws you may have to have a home study done and that costs money as well. I was lucky enough that my husband and I have been married for over five years so we did not hve to have a home study done, we live in NC. Best of luck!
YOU MIGHT be able to download the papers. NOT all courts have the documentation online that is necessary. And local rules may require different forms. Please do not state that someone can do things when you don't even know what state they are in and are not familiar with the local courts.
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  #9  
Old 12-10-2008, 09:59 AM
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Allow me to echo that adoption is not a DIY project.

Nothing in your life will be as important as making sure this is done correctly.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdslilangel View Post
Just leave it as is and stop making yourselves sound real stupid about the sisutation at hand. Further more I don't need to know how to spell corcetly on here. I know how to spell perfectly fine. I did graduate high school and never once had any problems with my grammer.
  #10  
Old 12-10-2008, 10:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by enjmabe View Post
I was lucky enough that my husband and I have been married for over five years so we did not hve to have a home study done, we live in NC. Best of luck!
Not all states allow this. My husband and I were married for 7 years before he adopted our son.

The best thing to do, is to contact a lawyer. Every state, every rule is different.
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