Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Open Adoption

I would like to let another man (in a relationship with mother, but not married) adopt my child. He has been in her life since birth. I would like an open adoption but do not have much money. How can I go about this in an inexpensive manner? Do they still have to get home studies and all that stuff seeing that my child calls this man Dad as it is? Thanks for any advice.


Asked on 7/19/09, 10:02 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

henry lebensbaum Law Offices of Henry Lebensbaum (978-749-3606)

Re: Open Adoption

You can read up on the process by going to your local law library.

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Answered on 7/19/09, 10:04 am
Christopher Vaughn-Martel Charles River Law Partners, LLC

Re: Open Adoption

I hope you will urge the adoptive mother and father to contact my office on Monday.

Our firm handles adoptions such as this one, and you are correct that many of the costly, time-consuming, and invasive requirements of adoption might be waived because one of the adoptive parents is biologically related to the child.

The adoptive parents will want to file a joint petition for a co-parent adoption. I charge a simple flat-fee to prepare the petition, move the court to waive requirements such as residency, home study, and others, and finalize the adoption in court.

For your part, you should only be required to fill out an adoption surrender form, which will enable to the couple to go forward with their adoption.

Please pass my name along to the adoptive couple, and I would be happy to speak with them.

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Answered on 7/19/09, 1:43 pm


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