finally! Stepadopt question

[questionsinsc]

Finally deadbeat dad has agreed he will not visit. Looks like he will agree to my husband adopting. I go to my atty and he says, "it will cost about $5000!" I can not believe this is right. How much of this can I do myself? any advice? Am I crazy or does it seem high? I dont want to miss my window of opportunity here, but I just spent 10,ooo on atty fees to move out of state, revise visitation, etc. and I just cant afford 5 more this soon. Any help would be deeply appreciated. Thanks

 

[MySonsMom]

There is no reason that an uncontested relinguishing of rights and adoption should be $5000. You need to interview other attorneys. When it's uncontested (bio parent willingly is allowing this to happen) it is very simple and easy.

When I was going through the process, our attorney was able to bypass the Guardian Ad Litem and home visit from a social worker. He did research and was able to intertwine the relinguishing of rights and adoption together. (instead of doing them separate) Which would have saved loads on court costs.

In my process, parent was served (in our case, she went herself to our attorneys office and signed the papers) once she signed they were filed with the courts. I signed all the appropriate paperwork as well. We had a court date set. Go to the court date, judge signs the adoption/relinguishign of rights. Done deal.

Talk to other attorneys. Mine cost about $1000 total.

Good luck!

 

[questionsinsc]

thank you Mysonsmom, I didnt think I was crazy! I just really couldnt believe it. You see I have about 500 left on my retainer with this atty, but in the long run I guess I would be better off forfeiting it, or i wonder if I could use them as the GAL if I had to, to use up the retainer? I swear after 12 years of this I should have just gotten a law degree!!! Thanks

 

[questionsinsc]

Thanks Tig, I already checked into that! So Sorry! But anyway, I talked to another atty this am, and he says, 1500! I will now have to get some advice on how to let my last one know that I wont be using him or paying him 5 grand! Any suggestions?