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08 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
I hired Stephan Lange about 2 years back and I have never encountered a more rude, unprofessional lawyer in my 44 years of life. If you are looking for a lawyer who will be petty and cruel on top of actively trying to rip your family to shreds without the slightest bit of professionalism intact then Stephan Peter Lange is your guy!!! I cannot even call him a man!
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05 Feb, 2023 by Anonymous
She gave zero effort to my case and right before any and all court appearances she would charge me more money. She didn’t know anything about my case during any face to face appointments and did not prepare me for my court hearings.
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21 Jul, 2021 by Plumberbob
The lawyer made a deal,,I didn't except the deal,,Sooo he lied to me and help bury me..He told jury the reason for the accident was that I am blind...blamed me..HE LIES.
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10 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
She took my case pro bono, Se was inexperienced and she got frozen when went to court. So I lost everything, she didn’t talk to defend my case. Conclusion I ended with nothing. She ruin my life because after my divorce I hade a very hard time financially.I don’t recommend her to nobody she is not a good lawyer at all.
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16 May, 2018 by Anonymous
Showed up ninety minutes late for first court appearance because she booked two clients at the same time in different courthouses.
Lost my three letters of office because she lost her mail.
Was confused during court appearances and had to repeatedly ask questions from other attorneys and court staff and was disrespectful to the court recorder who questioned her on something.
Accused me of not informing her of information she needed but denied the fact that I had called numerous times and left messages with her secretary and then accused me of being insensitive because she was sick with the flu and couldn’t respond to my calls.
Showed up to court and complained the entire time how sick she was.
Billed me for two thirds of the entire cost she had quoted me after eight weeks of representation. She had originally agreed to represent me for what she anticipated to take three years.
When I questioned her about all of the mistakes she made, her response was “I told you I’ve never done this before”
She took advantage of me, a grieving, emotionally distraught widow, one month after losing my spouse.
Several other complaints... too many to list...
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19 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
I would not recommend Arnold Ernst. He did not seem professional nor did he seem to know the laws with "out of state" adoption. He is very long winded and his fees were unreasonable. My team of attorneys were very disappointed with his lack of knowledge.
I understand retainer fees, but felt he was unfair because I was out of state.
The court appointed attorney was very helpful..
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24 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired him because figuring with the many years experience he had, he must be good. Wrong! This man is very condescending, will not keep you informed of what's going on, and will not fight for you in court. Because of the mess that he left me with and the financial drain he created, not only am I financially hurting, I am having a hard time dealing with the matter that he was hired for. If you interview this man, please be very careful. The sales pitch is great but what you do not get what you are paying for. Good luck!
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12 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
Jennifer should NEVER be in FAMILY law. She is easily paid and foolishly easy. She does MORE DAMAGE to a child. She is close minded about PARENT ALIENATING. She always gets it wrong. As long as you have a big house and look good on Facebook. That is where the most abused children come from. Jennifer speak with the child away from parents. Jennifer be open minded to a bigger picture and for the love of god do not repeat what the child is telling you. As you know now it caused him more abuse at the big house. He suffers from PTSD. She abused him and you with her pictures and name drops. Now you know. She divorced him as soon as she could not play mind control games. He is back HOME safe and happy WITHOUT your help!!
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22 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Child seller. Along with warren l Mixon out of Irwin county have been selling and trading kids for years.
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12 Nov, 2019 by Davin dearth
Armando Aguilar did not respond timely to me or to my attorney, but he repeatedly threatened legal action if I didn't respond to his requests in a prompt and timely matter (which he made virtually impossible to do). He and his client hired a company to replace the shared sewer line in spite of our repeated requests to look at other, similarly priced companies with better online reviews. Armando missed several meetings with my lawyer, and then said that he had tried to call so that he could cover his tracks for missing the scheduled meeting. These missed meeting costs were then passed on to me, while the matter itself continued to go unresolved. Avoid him at all costs. He's sleazy. It's also strange that there are no online reviews of them. I'm guessing he'll try some kind of retribution for this review...
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18 Nov, 2014 by Estherjurasek
This attorney actually instructed me to write a letter to the judge. It was eight pages long and took me a long time to compile. His lead attorney told me that it should never have been written. That the judge would never read it etc... I got charged for all of this wasted time and communication. He refused to listen to me when I tried to follow the counselors suggestion to me. This is the counselor that he suggested I go to. He in my opinion did not communicate well with his lead. He neglected to inform me of the judges final ruling but for about three weeks insisted that he had. Once he discovered the mistake he emailed me saying, " Upon further review of your file we have discovered that we have not sent you the judges final ruling after all." They did however find the time at my expense to send it to my ex husband.
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23 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
Mark Miller was sloppy in his work and irresponsible. On several occasions he did not sufficiently research information or follow up on questionable information. He relied too heavily on an internal informant and did not consider or pursue potential conflicting information. While I believe he means well, he is not reliable if you need professional, thorough or responsible legal work.
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23 Mar, 2018 by Linda
Just spoke to the Atty for Child Support services who over saw our case today. She told me it was my Atty John Ireland who made our case take over 2 years because he kept asking for continuances. She said it was because of my atty and my ex’s husbands atty that nothing happened for over 2 years! So much money paid to John for NOTHING. The Child Support Atty told me, “it was your Atty who screwed you”, and I had a feeling. He was so weak in the courtroom I was embarrassed for him. He seems timid, sweet and quiet but he sucks as an Atty. My Father’s Atty recommended Mr. Ireland and after my father told his Atty of the incompetent way Ireland handled my case, his Atty promised he’d never refer John Ireland to anyone else. If you’re looking for a family lawyer, don’t bother, just do it yourself. I prevailed majorly on my own once I dropped the dead weight of an Atty. I found the behind the scenes info from the Child Support services Atty to be very insightful and exactly what I suspected was happening. Crooked Ireland can’t be trusted. This was supposed to be an easy case. He told me he was confident he’d get my Atty fees covered. He didn’t. His argument was weak at best to the judge. The only thing he did is find ways to keep us in the system so he could keep getting paid to do nothing. John would ask me to come into his office before we would go into court so he could, “prepare me“, for trial. Every time I would pay him to go into his office to, “prepare me“, I realized I was actually there to prepare him because he had no idea what was going on with our case. This happened several times and I got to pay for our time together. John also misunderstood orders & told me child-support could be retro dated back to the day that I filed, 2 years ago, he was wrong. John should’ve seen by the way the documents were filed that the court would not be able to go back and retro date. That’s huge he should know that. Horrible experience with this attorney. Having this attorney was very frustrating. Dealing with this attorney and the frustration he caused was the worst part of this whole ordeal that he was supposed to make easy. I will leave a bad review every on every site I can possibly find. If they get deleted, I will simply repost. My goal is to hopefully make him lose enough business to where he’s lost as much money as he’s swindled out of me .
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25 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
I had a consultation with Irene and was alarmed on how ignorant, impatient, unexperienced and egotistical she was. For being a family law lawyer, I felt I knew more about the family court system than she did. Needless to say, I did not hire Irene Casson-Gilbert, nor would I recommend her to anyone for any and all family law matters.
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18 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
Not only was John Green expensive during our adoption but I found myself having to take care of things myself that John was unable to accomplish. I would not recommend his services at all.
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27 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Everytime I try to talk to her it’s like she’s dodging me until I see her in the court room. She’s barely telling us anything. This is a very bad lawyer! I do not recommend.
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19 Jul, 2023 by Linda
I hired Macy Nuckles to assist me in my divorce after being served divorce papers. I told her before I paid the thousand dollar retainer fee that I needed an attorney that would "go to bat for me." She never responded to that, but she took my case. This attorney did absolutely nothing for me but the worst thing that she did is one week prior to an important court case, she gave me a letter stating that I could either pay another retainer and follow her to her new law firm OR stay with one of her fellow partners. I had no choice but to remain at the firm and go with another attorney there. She also must have known that she had a new position weeks prior, and during this time I was sending her e-mails and asking her questions and getting charged a lot per e-mail racking up a bill that she knew she was never going to follow through with. I would never trust this attorney with my case or anybody else's case because she is dishonest. I am disgusted with her and the way she handled my case.
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02 Mar, 2022 by Tracy
I have beef using Mr Fryer for several years now for different cases mostly traffic n such and he has always been amazing! Was a very fair flexible overall good lawyer until closer to 6 months ago when he literally just disappeared! I paid him for him to represent me in a municipal case from 3 years ago! He has been been on the case since day one, he told me the case was dismissed n was waiting for him to inform me of my fine amount so I could pay it and move forward with my life! Didn’t hear from him for a few months so started trying to contact him leaving message after message after message on his office v.m. With no such luck!! Now Patrick has always been a little difficult to get ahold of due to his case load but when I looked up my case on Missouri casenet I see that my case was never dismissed and he has not appeared on my case since last October and I now have an warrant for my arrest due to failing to appear on it!! He is still listed as my attorney on the case there has never been a motion to be removed from the case and still Mr. Fryer is 100% unreachable!! I call his law firm to only get the same recording as I always have with no attempt from him as any response to my numerous messages via vm and text! This is completely a violation of my contract I have with him and tbh absolutely not like him at all! I am worried about him and yet very angry for the unprofessionalism and disrespect I have been shown as of this date!! If anyone else has had this same issue please leave a review as well so we can get some kind of answer to the question if the year “What in the hell has happened to Mr. Patrick Fryer attorney at law!!!??”
PS-I have referred many people to this man threw out the years with no issues ever until now!
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04 Aug, 2018 by Bruce
Cheryl has an overinflated opinion of herself that gets in the way of reaching a settlement. After almost a year I fired her and hired a new attorney. The matter was resolved in also a month. If you want to pay Cheryl for nothing then she’s good for you.
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12 Feb, 2013 by L. a. br
She did absolutley nothing to help my case. She just pushed papers. She didn't look out for my best interest or offer ideas of what I was entitled to during my divorce. Thus my kids ended up with little child support and I ended up with no spousal support even though I stayed home with my kids for close to eleven years. We are now hurting desperately for money to live. I personal paid $6,000 for the divorce and ended up paying over $40,000 to go back to school to earn enough of a living to be able to support my children. I am in serious debt now. My ex walked away with everything because Ms. Boga didn't know my rights nor did she fight for my children.
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23 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
John Barr: This attorney has ten counts of misconduct. Please be careful in giving your business to this attorney. Get a real description of his license
.
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24 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
Do not recommend this attorney .she never fought for my rights or requested any documenttation needed needed to prove my rights .lost everything.this was a child custody divorce casr
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20 Feb, 2024 by Michelle
I hired Barbara Moore for a custody case over 12 years ago,.....she informed me that we had lost in court one day because the judge had lost a sports bet with her the night before and was still angry. She laughed. It wasn't funny to me at all, my child's well-being was at stake.....then for a year after my case, she harassed my mother for a payment that she had already made, but was "lost" when she joined the puff and cockerill firm during my trial. Would not ever reccomend.
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20 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
Mr. Wrigley handled my divorce. He did not address the issue of college tuition and when I questioned the decision I was told we would need to go back to court when my daughter reached college age. She was 16 at the time of the divorce. I have talked to other people who have very young children and this was still addressed in their settlement. I was billed for numerous hours every time our case was scheduled for court even when it was cancelled. It was as if he had to start preparing from scratch each time court dates were cancelled. I can understand the need to review the case, but not the number of hours I was billed each and every time. I was charged from the minute I saw him before court until the end of the appearance although he left for long periods of time to appear in other courtrooms for other clients during that time. I felt overbilled by this attorney.
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31 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
This guy was appointed as a special defender on a case I was falsely accused of. I had a video proving my innocence. His hired help did not know what thumb drive was even compatable to the computer they had at the Owensville office. They did not return phone calls. Then when they did they did not tell the truth about filing for a speedy trial when it was requested several times. I found him to be completely useless. And would not recommend him to anyone for any reason. I fired him. After I fired him , he filed to remove his self from my case. Based on the grounds that I wanted a speedy trial against his better judgement.. Innocent people don't want to drag on something they did not do. I feel he wasn't working for me. Or it could have been he wasn't experienced enough to know what to do. Either way, I can't truthfully give him even one star.
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18 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
Prior to hiring Alan Plott, I had already won custody of my children, but was trying to make sure I kept custody of them. Mr. Plott took the case, but never seemed very interested in it. He never met with me to discuss it and never took the time to help me fill out paperwork. I wrote all of my own Declarations, filed my own paperwork with the court, and had to show up randomly to his office to get any help or replies to the numerous e-mails and phone calls I made. When we finally went to court, Mr. Plott misquoted facts, mispronounced names, and stood there and did not defend me against anything my ex said, even though he had more than sufficient evidence to do so. I ended up firing Mr. Plott and winning the case on my own, again. However, even though he only appeared in court once and never did any paperwork, I somehow used up $3500 worth of a retainer fee that his office claims is only used on work that they do. Mr. Plott is perfect if you're just looking for a Lawyer to stand there and look baffled.
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09 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
Consulted on a divorce case. She was abrupt, rude, and not happy that I had my toddler with me. My case involved domestic violence and she seemed extremely uncomfortable with the details of that. She also made me wait several days to call and tell me she wouldn't take my case. By then I'd already ruled her out and found someone else.
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27 Apr, 2016 by Sean
This guy is a FRAUD! Literally billed me for a year and a half and resolved no motions! Ended relationship when he drained $2.6K and refused to itemize bill! Do not approach unless you want to be a broke loser like me!
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24 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
The only thing she did was show up, she did absolutely nothing else. She didn't even attempt to change the name on my surety bond like I requested.
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07 Dec, 2020 by Rich
I'm not sure she passed the bar, perhaps she had some help (maybe cheated); point being, competence is not her specialty, and elementary understanding of constitutional tenets, forget it. If she is your public defender, represent yourself; which is to say, not much worse could transpire for you considering your luck of the draw with her appointment of counsel is fraught with deficiency.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Adoption Lawyer Can Do for You
An adoption lawyer specializes in navigating the legal complexities of the adoption process, ensuring that the rights of all parties involved - the adoptive parents, birth parents, and the child - are protected. They assist families through the different types of adoption, such as domestic, international, foster care, stepparent, and private adoptions. Adoption lawyers ensure that the adoption process complies with state, federal, and international laws, and handle any legal issues that may arise during the process, such as terminating parental rights, conducting home studies, and finalizing the adoption.
If you're looking to adopt or if you're a birth parent considering placing your child for adoption, an adoption lawyer can guide you through the legal requirements and ensure the process goes smoothly.
When Should I Hire an Adoption Lawyer?
You should consider hiring an adoption lawyer in the following situations:
- Private or independent adoption: If you’re adopting a child directly from the birth parents without the involvement of an adoption agency, a lawyer is essential to draft and review all legal documents, including consent forms and parental rights termination agreements.
- Foster care adoption: If you’re adopting a child from foster care, a lawyer can help navigate the legal process, ensure the child’s eligibility for adoption, and represent you in court to finalize the adoption.
- Stepparent or relative adoption: If you’re adopting a stepchild or a relative, a lawyer can assist in terminating the parental rights of the biological parent and ensure the adoption is completed legally and efficiently.
- International adoption: International adoptions are complex, involving multiple layers of laws from the U.S. and the child’s birth country. A lawyer can help navigate immigration requirements and ensure compliance with international treaties like the Hague Convention.
- Contested adoptions: If a birth parent changes their mind about the adoption or there is a dispute over parental rights, a lawyer can represent you in court and ensure that the adoption proceeds legally.
- Adoption for same-sex couples: If you're a same-sex couple looking to adopt, a lawyer can help ensure that your adoption complies with state laws and that both parents have equal legal rights to the child.
- Birth parent representation: If you’re a birth parent considering adoption, a lawyer can ensure that your rights are protected, help you understand the legal implications of terminating parental rights, and ensure that your decision is legally sound.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can help avoid legal complications and ensure that the adoption is legally finalized as smoothly as possible.
What Does an Adoption Lawyer Do?
An adoption lawyer provides a variety of legal services, ensuring that the adoption process is completed in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Their responsibilities often include:
- Filing legal paperwork: Adoption lawyers handle all the necessary paperwork, including petitions to terminate parental rights, consent forms, and final adoption decrees. They ensure that the adoption is in line with state, federal, and international laws.
- Conducting home studies: Some adoptions require a home study to evaluate the prospective adoptive family. While a social worker usually conducts the study, a lawyer can ensure that the process complies with legal requirements and that the report is submitted correctly.
- Terminating parental rights: Lawyers assist in terminating the legal rights of the biological parents, either voluntarily through signed consent or involuntarily through court proceedings if necessary.
- Representing clients in court: Adoption lawyers represent adoptive parents, birth parents, or other parties in court hearings to finalize the adoption or resolve disputes.
- Navigating international adoption laws: For international adoptions, a lawyer helps ensure that all legal requirements, both in the U.S. and the child’s home country, are met, including securing the child’s visa and citizenship.
- Providing legal advice: Adoption lawyers guide clients through each step of the adoption process, advising them on their rights and obligations, as well as any potential legal issues that may arise.
- Drafting post-adoption agreements: In some cases, especially open adoptions, a lawyer can help draft post-adoption agreements that specify the level of contact between the adoptive and birth parents.
How Are Adoption Lawyers Paid?
Adoption lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the adoption and the time involved. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many adoption lawyers charge a flat fee for handling the entire adoption process. This is common for straightforward adoptions, such as stepparent or foster care adoptions, where the legal work is relatively predictable.
- Hourly rate: For more complex adoptions, such as contested or international adoptions, some lawyers charge by the hour, with rates typically ranging from $200 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: In cases where the adoption process may take longer or involve more legal work (e.g., termination of parental rights or court disputes), a lawyer may require a retainer, which is an upfront payment that is billed against as the lawyer works on the case.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront, so you understand the total cost of the adoption and any additional expenses that may arise during the process.
How Much Does an Adoption Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an adoption lawyer depends on the type of adoption and the complexity of the case. General cost estimates include:
- Stepparent or relative adoption: Legal fees for these types of adoptions typically range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on whether the adoption is contested or requires a court hearing.
- Domestic private adoption: The legal fees for a private adoption usually range from $5,000 to $10,000, including drafting documents, terminating parental rights, and finalizing the adoption in court.
- International adoption: International adoptions are generally more expensive, with legal fees ranging from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the adoption and the child’s country of origin.
- Contested adoption: If the adoption is contested and involves court disputes, legal fees may range from $10,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the length and complexity of the court proceedings.
In addition to lawyer fees, adoptive parents should also be aware of additional costs such as court filing fees, home study fees, and travel expenses (for international adoptions).
Top Questions to Ask an Adoption Lawyer
Before hiring an adoption lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they have the experience and knowledge to handle your case effectively. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with adoptions?
Ensure the lawyer has experience with the specific type of adoption you’re pursuing, whether it’s domestic, international, foster care, or stepparent adoption. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or hourly rate and ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in your adoption. -
What are the legal requirements for my adoption?
Ask the lawyer to explain the legal steps involved in your adoption and any specific requirements that may apply to your case, such as home studies or parental consent. -
How long will the adoption process take?
Adoption timelines can vary depending on the type of adoption, so ask the lawyer for an estimate of how long the process will take, including any potential delays. -
What are the common challenges in adoption cases?
Ask about any potential legal challenges that could arise during the adoption process and how the lawyer plans to address them. -
Will I need to go to court?
Depending on the adoption, you may need to attend court hearings. Ask the lawyer whether your presence will be required and what to expect during these hearings. -
Can you help with post-adoption issues?
Ask the lawyer if they can assist with any post-adoption issues, such as obtaining the child’s birth certificate, finalizing the child’s U.S. citizenship (for international adoptions), or drafting post-adoption contact agreements.
How to Check the Credibility of an Adoption Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable adoption lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Look for adoption experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in adoption law and have experience handling cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about their experience with the lawyer.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on adoption cases.
- Check for memberships in relevant organizations: Look for lawyers who are members of adoption-focused organizations like the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), which can indicate their expertise in this field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with an adoption lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Information about the child and birth parents: Provide any available information about the child you’re adopting (e.g., age, country of origin, current living situation) and the birth parents, if applicable.
- Adoption preferences: Be clear about the type of adoption you’re pursuing - whether it’s domestic, international, foster care, stepparent, or private - and discuss any preferences you have regarding the child’s age, background, or special needs.
- Legal documents (if applicable): If you’ve already begun the adoption process or have signed any agreements, bring copies of all relevant legal documents, such as consent forms or agency agreements.
- Questions about the adoption process: Prepare a list of questions about the legal steps involved in your adoption, potential timelines, and any concerns you may have about the process.
- Financial considerations: Be ready to discuss your budget for legal fees and any additional costs, such as home studies, court fees, and travel expenses (for international adoptions).
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice for your adoption journey.
