AboutPeter C. Winkler, CSW Expertise I have experience with adoption subsidy, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and variety of other adoption related matters. I hope that I can be helpful to those who are considering adoption or would like to adopt a child.
Experience I am a social worker with an MSW and I have over thirty years of experience in family and children's services. I have worked as Director of adoption services and of the Interstate Compact in a large state agency. I have also provided direct services to children and families in a preventive services program. I currently prepare adoption studies for those who are adopting domestically or internationally.
Expert: Peter C. Winkler, CSW Date: 12/4/2007 Subject: How short can the adoption process be?
Question I'm looking at adopting a child from a family member who has run into troubles with CPS and is currently not caring for her child. The mother and father are both present but not intending to care for the child. The parents are looking to move away (probably today if they had the money, but likely not for a week or more).
I could wait for the government to eventually terminate parental rights due to abandonment, but this would likely take time, and leave the children in temporary care with someone else during that time. If the parents would agree to sign adoption papers, how much time could this take? Can I find an attorney today, and have their part of the process done and over with within a week or so?
I intend to contact a lawyer, but I'm wanting to have an idea of what I'm dealing with before I jump in head first. I would like to approach the parents with all of this, but I want to give them a realistic time frame that they'd be looking to dedicate to making this happen. My fear is that they will skip state before the process is complete if it takes several days. And certainly I don't want to toss money into legal fees that are fruitless and will end up being taken care in another way when CPS gets around to it.
Any advice you can give me in this regard would be helpful.
Thanks.
Answer Dear John- Since adoption laws and procedures vary from state to state, it would be good to identify a local attorney with experience doing adoptions in order to ask these questions. You could get names from your local Bar Association or perhaps the clerk of the court in your jurisdcition where adoptions are handled.
The process will take longer than a week or two since you will need to have an adoption home study conducted. The home study is a written report on you and your situation that is sent to thew court.
In your initial consultation with the attorney you can find out the approximate cost, when the child can be placed with you, etc. The meeting will also give you an opportunity to discuss whether there is anything that might prevent the judge from approving you as an adoptive family.
