Law Offices of M. Michelle Erich
PERSONAL ADOPTION SERVICES
M. Michelle Erich, Esq.
BIRTH PARENTS: Thank you considering the adoption decision! We would love to assist you through the process. There is no cost to a birth mother, ever, for our services! Adoption is a difficult, but very rewarding parenting decision. It will bring you peace of mind for your child's future! Contact Michelle Erich now or simply send in a completed
Birth Mother Form. You might find useful information in the
Birth Mother Questions link. If you have a other concerns, or if you would simply like to speak with Michelle, call or e-mail her today! She will help you find parents and make the best adoption plan for you.
ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Thank you for choosing the Law Offices of M. Michelle Erich to serve your needs in adopting a baby. If you are adopting for the first time, the
Adoptive Parent Questions provide basic information. While we cannot guarantee you will be selected to adopt a child, we look forward to assisting you to become a parent! You are always welcome to call Michelle 1-800-806-2010 or e-mail her
me290@aol.com.
You have come to the best place to become a parent. Michelle lists no more than 24 applicants at any one time to help your adds of a quick placement. You can begin today by completing and mailing in the
Adoptive Parent Application (APA), a good candid photo, a "Dear Birthmother" letter, and your low listing fee of $1850.00. (Payment:
www.ePayOps.com , Code 8056506160/Cashier's Check/Money Order. If for any reason, you are not included in the prospective adoptive parent listing, your application fee will be immediately refunded to you.) ) As soon as Michelle receives you application, she will call you to set up an in-person interview or tele-conference.
HOW THE ADOPTION PROCESS WORKS: THE TIME LINE
In the beginning-
Hopefully, sometime before the child is born, there has been a match made (preferably in heaven) between birth parents and adopting parents. In a perfect scenario, the birth parents are then given an advisement by an Adoption Service Provider (ASP), licensed by the state explaining the legal significance and ramifications of an adoption placement.
Next -
A beautiful baby is born! The child and the birth mother are usually released from the hospital within 24-72 hours. The birth mother signs the Health Facility Release form (AD 22), allowing the adoptive parents to take the baby home with them directly from the hospital. The original of the AD22 is sent by the hospital the California State Department of Social Services (DSS) . The birth mother (and possibly birth father) give the consent to the adoption on an Adoption Placement Agreement witnessed by the ASP. If the ASP advisement has been given at least 10 days prior to the childbirth, the Adoption Placement Agreement can be signed in the presence of the ASP by the birth mother as soon after the delivery as she is up to it, usually 48-72 hours. The ASP can then take the adoptive parents signatures. (If the advisement was not given at lease 10 days before the birth, then the time period must run after the birth before the Adoption Placement Agreement can be signed.)
Usually within 10-15 days
The ASP files the adoption placement document with the State of California and provides a copy to the attorney who will be handling the adoption. A conformed copy is sent to the State Department of Social Services. The attorney for the adoption parents attach the Adoption Placement Agreement to an Adoption Request that is filed in a court of appropriate jurisdiction. A copy of the filed Request is immediately forwarded by the attorney to the DSS to initiate a home study. If the child will be born out of state, but the adopting parents are California residents, the birth parent(s) will sign a 100A form which is sent to the DSS.
In either case, a DSS social worker is assigned to the case. The California adoptive parent(s) will complete home-study forms and meet their social worker. In the event of an out of state birth, this must be done before the adopting parent(s) can bring an out of state child into California.
It is best to initiate a home study in advance with an out of state adoption. The DSS is required to contact and interview the adoptive parents for the purpose of completing a home study and to provide a report to the court of their investigation not later than 180 days without court approval. If not done previously, the adoptive parents must fill out home-study forms and meet with the state social worker assigned to their case.
31st day
The birth parents' consent to adoption becomes irrevocable on the 31st day after the Adoption Pacement Agreement was signed. This period can be shortened if the birth parents elect to meet with a California social worker from the DSS to sign a Waiver of the Right to Revoke Consent. Until the Waiver has been signed or until the 30 day period has passed, the birth parents may reclaim the child. (If the birth father is unavailable/unwilling to sign consent forms, various legal procedures may be ulitized depending on the status of the birth father in order to terminate his rights, however the paternal rights may not be terminated by the 31st day, depending on the legal steps rquired.)
Usually by the end of 5th month
The social worker will have visited the adopting family's home to insure the that the home is appropriate, reviewed the medical records for the child and the adopting parents, and sent the finger prints of all adults living in the home with the child for investigation. The birth father's rights will have been terminated. The social worker will be completing a report to the court.
Within 180 days
The social worker should have filed the final report recommending approval or disapproval of the adoption, based on the investigation. (Delays may result if all parties fail to complete all necessary paperwork in a timely way. )
The home stretch
The attorney for the adopting parents will file an accounting report to the court documenting all adoption-related expenses including expenses paid to or for the birth parents, the legal fees and costs, and so on. Anytime after the DSS report recommending approval is filed, and at least 6 months have passed since the Request was filed, a final adoption hearing can be conducted privately before a judge. The final documents are signed and at that moment the child becomes the legal child of the adopting parents. Soon thereafter a new birth certificate is issued by the state naming the adopting parents.
LET'S BEGIN TODAY!