Legal Question in Family Law in New Mexico

An adoption is one of the most complicated civil legal actions a person can do. I could not, in all honesty, try to lead you to believe that you could do this on your own and without an attorney. The statute is real clear about how to make you initial pleading; however, there are many many fine points and steps that must be taken and it would be nearly impossible to tell a non lawyer how to do it in writing over the internet. The best advice I can offer is go see a lawyer. Try legal aid if finances are an issue; they might be able to help (but, they usually shy away from family law matters like this one). You can call Law Access New Mexico and if you qualify financially then you'll get a telephone conversation with a lawyer - however, I would bet they too would tell you to go hire an attorney. You can go to the state bar lawyer referral service. The web site is NMBAR.org and when you look around at their website you'll see a place for "lawyer referral." You can also look in the yellow pages and even ask your church pastor or a school counselor for referrals to lawyers that they know in your area who do adoptions. Usually, those lawyers will be the "family lawyers."

Any lawyer is going to ask you how is it that you are adopting your granddaughter? Where are her parents? Do the parents agree to the adoption? If one parent is deceased does the other parent know that you want to adopt? Is the child in NM or does she live in another state? Have you had custody of granddaughter? There are these questions and many many more that have to be answered. Then, there will be criminal background checks and and a psychologist interview and report and there are additional items.

So. . . . go see a lawyer. Good Luck.

Law Guru