Adoption experience with and without attorney

Lori, I can only speak about our experience with an attorney. The parents signed consent so we too had a cut and dry case. I contacted the attorney and she came out to our home on December 1 for us to discuss fees, sign papers to officially hire her, sign the petition, grant her permission to get paid directed from DCS for the NRAE. The case manager informed me this past Monday that the adoption summary had been submitted to our attorney. Yesterday the attorney called to inform me that if we are ok with not receiving the subsidy we could finalize on the 28th of this month. Since the adoption summary only included medicaid and NRAE we would probably have to "fight" for the subsidy and with the budget being as it is, I think our chances are slim. If we want to push for the subsidy she said we would probably finalize next month. Our's went very quick. A lot of that has to do with the case manager. We were told that they have 60 days to complete the adoption summary but if they don't make that deadline there's no penalty and they are just given another 60 days until they complete it. Our attorney was recommended to us from someone who does FP training and she (the attorney) used to work for DCS so probably knows some tricks to move things along. If you're interested I'd be happy to share her information if you PM me.

We used an attorney with our first adoption. TPR was completed in late March & the adoption was finalized June 13. Our second adoption we are using an atty again (different one) seems to be taking forever. We initially held off finalizing because a biosibling was supposedly going to be TPRd & we wanted them to be adopted together. That didn't happen and here we still sitting waiting on the paperwork to get to our atty so he can file the petition to adopt. I've never heard of NOT using an atty though.. Good luck!

I thought you had to use an atty. Can some of you who have already adopted offer some suggestions? I'm in Vanderburgh, but we're willing to travel wherever within the state for the right atty. PM me if you don't feel comfortable with posting it here.

well.. that all sounds more like what I would expect. Alot more than what I am hearing. I was told (by CW THAT IS) That if I just followed their guidance , we woudl get there. I have only spoken to a couple people who did not use and attorney.. and they said that is what they did.. and it went smoothly. Im just not sure on the time frame it took. But Sonya.. sounds as if it was only a few months. How great you have a date coming up so soon. was it that they had 60 days after filing petiion to complete the summary? I have not even been advised to do that yet. I had asked many times in the past months if I needed to.. I believe it came down to CW being clueless ( this is my conclussion) and that there was something about a resource parent having a coupld differnt rules than others. I too am doubtful of a subsidy.. but again. she is clueless..If just the NRAE and Medicaid ( which Im hoping to at least keep) that would be great. I think I have just convinced myself that we would be doing with out the rest. I guess my best bet.. is to call a lawyer.. get it going. somethign HAS to help speed the process. I think I just am at that point that I want it over with and final. I dont want anything to stir up this "cut and dry" case.. there is always that feeling of it aint over till its over.. ya know? On top of I am sooooo tired of not being able to live my life and make my own decisions. It gets very frustrating. Plus.. it will give me more control over visitation schedule with other bio family that i am told I must keep doing right now. My reasons may be somewhat selfish though. But he really does not know his parents at all.. just g-ma and g-pa . and at 15 months old Im doubting he has any emotional attachment to them.. seeing them just a few hours a week. But.. what will he want later.. Im torn..

USE AN ATTORNEY!!! That way u know everything is done right so in 5 years you dont have an issue and someone saying something was not done... WE used an attorney and I am not sure if it was any faster but they will start pushing DCS to get it done... Plus you have that confidence to know that legally u are covering all bases..

Yes.. that all makes sense. And, is something that I have gone back and forth over. I think that when faced with first wondering how you will pay for things.. then being told there is money to "help" with legal fees.. and someone that you think knows all there is to know about it ( CW) and them telling you that you can get one if you want, but it wont make things faster or better or and you really dont need to.. you trust that.I am finding out that half of them really dont have a clue and many times wonder how they have the job they do. I have also been told by many that I should have her job!!! Thanks for all the replies. I did call one attorney yesterday. and I am going to try another today.

update..I will be seeing an attorney tomorrow.. she said she WILL get the ball rolling. Yipppeeeee!!!