Legal Question in Family Law in Kansas
step child adoption
i want to know what would be the cheapest way to adopt my step daughter..her birth father has no contact w/her & never has since her birth & we might receive 500.00 a year in child support which we could do with-out & im sure he would rather not pay...he resides in kansas & my family lives in texas..is there a way i can get this done without spending alot of $$...i dont know if the court trustee can get him to waive his rights or what needs to be done to get this done...please assist with any info that might help us...my step daughter is 8 yrs old & again no contact has been made since my wife left kansas 8 yrs ago..we do receive child support 3 times a yr & we have received info that he has been put in jail for non-payment..i dont want his $$ & i want my daughter to have my last name...but i dont have alot of $$ to do this with..please help ...thanx
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: step child adoption
You will need a lawsuit to terminate the father's parental rights and to adopt the child. This must be served on the father if he can be found. I do this type of thing all of the time. My fee is $2500 plus costs and expenses. Court costs in my area are approx. $800-$900 because an investigation and a report are required by statute for the court. Expenses would likely run $75-$400 to serve the father. If he cannot be found, it is more expensive because an ad must be run in the newspaper to give him or his friends or family an opportunity to tell him about the lawsuit. Contact the bar association in your county to see if someone will do this for you cheaper or if there is legal aid in your area.
Re: step child adoption
James Grissom's answer was accurate and on-target.
The costs for a termination and step-parent adoption are so high because terminating someone's parental rights are permanent and considered a drastic step.
It takes a few months to have the social study done, etc. so don't plan on it being a quick case.
The costs will vary depending on what the father decides to do. If he contests the termination, it will cost more. If he agrees to accept the lawsuit papers and to sign all of the required documents, it will save a lot of money.
If you live in the Houston area, I offer a free consultation.
Fran Brochstein
713-847-6000
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