If you want to adopt a child in Indiana, you need to plan and prepare well for this life-changing choice. You also need to know the legal process and requirements that you have to follow. Here are some of the main steps and factors that you should consider when adopting a child legally in Indiana. Here’s the link to read more about this now! Click here to get even more info.
Finding a Legal Representative
You need to choose a lawyer who can represent you and give you legal advice as the first step in the adoption process. You should find a lawyer who knows about the foster care system and adoption laws in Indiana. You can get recommendations from family, friends, or other adoptive parents, or contact your local county Bar Association for more information on lawyers. You should also inquire about the lawyer fees and how they charge their services. Click here to learn more about this service! This homepage has all the info.
Approval
You need to have a permitted Family Preparation Assessment (Home Study), which is an appraisal of your suitability as an adoptive parent, before you can adopt a child. The Home Study is performed by either the Local County Department of Child Services (DCS) or a Private Child Placing Agency (LCPA) that contracts with them. The Home Study includes interviews, home visits, background checks, references, medical reports, financial statements, and other documents. You need to have written authorization from DCS or LCPA before a child can be placed with you for adoption. Here’s the link to learn more about the awesome product now!
Agency Oversight
Indiana law requires that adoptions be granted only after a period of monitoring has been met. The monitoring period is usually six months, but it may vary depending on the court’s discretion. During this period, the child and the adoptive family are monitored by either DCS or LCPA to ensure that they are adjusting well to each other. The agency will provide support services, such as counseling, education, training, and referrals, to help the family during this transition period. Just click here and check out this website!
Required Permissions
Another important step in the adoption process is to obtain the required consents from the parties involved. The consent of the child’s mother, if she is living, is required by law to complete an adoption. The consent of the child’s father who has established paternity or signed a paternity affidavit is also required. If the child is a ward of the state, DCS may have completed a court action to terminate the parent-child relationship so that the child can be legally free for adoption. Your attorney should check with DCS to see whether all consents have been obtained or if the child is legally free for adoption. This page has all the info.
Adoption Application Filing
Once you have gotten all the required permissions and approvals, you can file an adoption application with the court having jurisdiction in probate matters in your county of residence or in the county where the child resides. The adoption application is a legal document that states your intention to adopt the child and provides information about you, the child, and your relationship with the child. You will need to attach copies of your Home Study permission, permissions, background checks, and other documents to your application. Here’s the link to discover more about this now! Click here to get even more info on the subject!
Adoption Registration Fees
When you file your adoption request with the court, you will also need to pay some fees associated with your adoption. These fees may include a putative father registry fee ($10), an adoption history fee ($20), and a court registration fee (varies by county). Some of these fees may be waived or reduced depending on your income level and eligibility for assistance. You should check with your legal representative or court clerk for more information on these fees. Here’s the link to learn more about the awesome product. Just click here and check it out!