How do you handle an adoption without an attorney? Is it difficult?

Question

My husband wants to adopt my 14 year old son, his biological father is all for it too. We really do not have the 4000 dollars to pay an attorney. I have heard of people doing it themselves. Can anyone tell me how this is done, and what we have to do to get started on it? The state we live in is Louisiana.
Thanks

Answer 1

Only a lawyer licensed in Louisiana could give you that information.

I understand your unwillingness to part with $4,000 for an adoption, but a step-parent adoption need not be that expensive. I don't know if you have contacted different attorneys, but I suggest you do so.

Technically, its possible for you to do the procedure yourselves. However, it is incredibly unwise for you to do so. If you do it wrong, you could end up with a mess that you will end up paying an attorney more than $4,000 to straighten out.

People often try and do their own legal work, or buy books and computer programs to do it, thinking they can save money. The problem is, without the knowledge of the laws and procedures in the background, they often create more of a problem for themselves, and pay attorneys many times the amount they paid for the book or software.

I urge you to contact an attorney in your area who can do the job correctly the first time. In my experience (I'm not licensed in Louisianna), step-parent adoption is not all that complicated if the biological father consents. For more information and a referral, contact your local or state bar association.