Adoption Legal Answers

Can we pay expenses for a birth mother in an adoption?

My wife and I want to adopt and we’ve been approached by a woman in our church who is pregnant and cannot keep the baby. She is not in a good situation financially and has asked us if we are able to assist her with expenses. If we do not, she will need to leave Sacramento and go live with her parents in Seattle during her pregnancy. We do not want that, we prefer her to be close by so we can monitor the pregnancy and attend doctor’s appointments with her. We think we are legally allowed to pay for her medical expenses for the birth, but does California law permit us to provide her things like rent and food? Should we have some sort of contract stating the terms of the adoption? We are Filipino and so is she, so it’s important to us to work with a Filipino lawyer if we do need one.

Sacramento, CA

Mar 15, 2021

Can you adopt or get custody of a sibling?

I’m 19 and my brother is 10. Our dad is deceased and our mom has a drug problem. For the past 3 years, I’ve been the primary caretaker for my brother. He’ll go back to our mom for awhile when she’s clean, but then she’ll start using again and he comes back to me. I want him to come live with me full time so he can get settled in the school in my area and stop going back and forth. Is there a way for me to get custody of him so that I can make his school and medical decisions, and so that our mother cannot just come and take him back whenever she wants? Can I get custody of him or am I eligible to adopt him? Which would be better? I live in San Jose, have my own place and job, and have no criminal record.

San Jose, CA

Mar 15, 2021

Can an adoption agency be required to abide by my wishes?

I’m Filipino and a devout Catholic. My boyfriend and I made a mistake and were with each other before we got married. We are not ready to raise a child and want to place our baby for adoption, but we want to ensure that our child is raised in a Catholic, Filipino household. If we work with an adoption agency and state our preferences, are they required by law to do what we ask and place our child with parents of our same culture and beliefs? How do we make sure this has happened and a proper placement has been made after I give up my baby at the hospital, if that’s what we do decide to do?

Fairfax, VA

Mar 15, 2021

Does my stepson’s bio father have to consent to his adoption?

I married my wife 5 years ago and she had a 7 year old son. At the time, he was still having contact with his father. As time passed, they saw each other less and less and for at least the last 2 years, they haven’t seen each other at all. My stepson and I have grown very close and he has been asking me to adopt him, which I want to do. My wife is in full agreement. If his father hasn’t been around and my stepson and his mother want me to adopt him, does his father have to consent? I’m not even sure at this point that we would even be able to locate him. If we can’t locate him, can the adoption go forward after a certain period of time?

Seattle, WA

Mar 15, 2021

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