Question by My BFF is a Pitador!: In the state of PA, is an attorney necessary for a private adoption?
My friend is allowing me to adopt her unborn child, once he/she is born. I have put a call in to an attorney and wondering what to expect.

Best answer:

Answer by Ann
Hi, In all states of the US, in order to adopt you are required to have an approved home study. A home study is a process that takes several months to process. It includes items such as background checks, a financial review, parenting classes, medical physicals, personal references, home checks, meetings with a case worker and lots of paperwork.

As this will be a private adoption, you would need to hire a private agency or adoption attorney to process this for you. You will also need to hire an attorney to draw up all the paperwork required by the courts to finalize the adoption. Finalization occurs months after the child is placed with you, states vary on the time period.

Both parents must relinquish their parental rights. Once the parents relinquish their rights, there is a revocation period where either can revoke the adoption and have the child returned.

The revocation period for PA is:

“23 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 2711(c)
• For any reason until the court enters either a termination order confirming consent or an adoption decree.”

Costs vary depending on the fees charged by agencies / attorneys. I’d estimate the entire process could be anywhere from 00. to 00.

I’d also like to recommend adopting from the foster care system. They have both foster-to-adopt and waiting children programs. Waiting children are those whose parental rights have been terminated, relinquished or are in the process. These children are literally waiting for permanent homes, many are sibling groups. When you adopt from foster care, there are no home study or placement fees.,
Best Wishes !
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