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.
Finding a Legal Representative
The first step in the adoption process is to find a legal representative who can represent you and offer you legal advice. You should look for a legal representative who has experience and knowledge of the foster care system and adoption laws in Indiana. You can ask for suggestions from family, friends, or other adoptive parents, or contact your local county Bar Association for more information on legal representatives. You should also ask about the legal representative fees and how they bill their services. Click here to learn more about this adoption service!
Approval
You need to have an authorized Family Preparation Assessment (Home Study), which is an assessment of your fitness as an adoptive parent, before you can adopt a child. The Home Study is done by either the Local County Department of Child Services (DCS) or a Private Child Placing Agency (LCPA) that contracts with them. The Home Study involves interviews, home visits, background checks, references, medical reports, financial statements, and other documents. You need to have written permission from DCS or LCPA before a child can be placed with you for adoption. See, this site has all the info you need to learn about this amazing product.
Agency Supervision
Indiana law requires that adoptions be granted only after a period of supervision has been met. The supervision 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 supervised 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.
Required Consents
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.
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.
Adoption Filing Fees
When you file your adoption application 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 submission 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 lawyer or court clerk for more information on adoption fees.