How Much Does a Stepparent Adoption Cost in Oklahoma?
Like any other adoption process, there are costs and fees associated with a stepparent adoption in Oklahoma. The financing of adoption, including stepparent adoption, is family dependent. Each family’s situation is different and we quote retainers based on each family’s individual needs. A family law and adoption attorney OKC at Lisa R Howard PLLC, can help you navigate the adoption process and help determine how much the entire process may cost.
How Much Does a Stepparent Adoption Cost in Oklahoma?
Costs for a step parent adoption Oklahoma can depend on your specific situation. Adoption costs may be higher, depending on whether the adoption is contested, or extensive paperwork must be filed with the courts. Though not required, hiring an adoption attorney OKC is highly recommended. Most people would not give birth without a physician who specializes in delivering babies. It is equally as important, in adoption cases, to hire an experience attorney who focuses their practice to the area of adoption.
Detailed Costs of a Step Parent Adoption Oklahoma
The final cost of an Oklahoma step parent adoption depends on how long the process takes, how cooperative all biological parents are, and the amount of paperwork needed. Common items affecting the overall cost of a step parent adoption include:
- All necessary research
- Preparation of legal documents
- Number of legal documents needed
- Time writing, sending, and handling correspondence
- Working with caseworkers
- Communicating with the absent parent
- Any investigation into the other parent
- Setting and attending hearings
- Travel time and mileage to the courts
- Preparation of the birth certificate amendment form
Paperwork Fees
Fees charged by your attorney to cover paperwork and court appearances involve many aspects of your step parent adoption process. Outside of court costs and attorney fees, this may be one of the more significant fees associated with the adoption. Paperwork fees include preparing the paperwork, making necessary copies, and filing it with the courts. Filing fees in Oklahoma are $184.14 and background checks cost $69.00 per adult living in the home (excluding the biological parent), depending on how many pages are in the adoption file.
It is always best to hire an attorney to help with the paperwork because when filing it with the courts if anything is missing or incorrect, it could delay the process.
Birth Certificate Fees
Once the court hearings are completed, and the final adoption decree is given, it is time to get a new birth certificate. The new birth certificate will recognize the step parent as the birth parent, and if needed, a name change can be submitted. Fees for getting a new birth certificate in Oklahoma are $40 per child.
Can I File for a Step Parent Adoption on My Own?
It is possible to file for a step-parent adoption without an attorney; however, the adoption process may be delayed if something gets overlooked or filled out improperly. Having an adoption attorney by your side can help make the process easier, ensuring all paperwork is turned in and completed. Though it is cheaper to file for adoption on your own, the added expense of hiring an attorney may be more valuable than the delays you may encounter.
How an Attorney Can Help
Adoption lawyers OKC can help discuss what they can do for you during the step parent adoption process and share a detailed list of costs associated with the process. As a result, the attorney will have a better idea of what is necessary during the process and can list out all the prices, giving a rough estimate of the total costs from start to finish.
Additionally, an adoption attorney Tulsa can help prepare all paperwork, discuss parental consent with the non-custodial parent, and appear by your side in court. The attorney will be with you throughout the process, offering you peace of mind knowing that all paperwork has been correctly filed with the courts.
For a complete list of costs associated with a step parent adoption, call your adoption attorney Oklahoma, Lisa R Howard PLLC. Our attorneys will discuss the entire adoption process and break down all the costs. Call us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help with your step parent adoption.