What California requires of couples who want to adopt

By |2022-04-04T16:49:54+00:0012 Dec 2014|Categories: Family Law, Adoption|

What California requires of couples who want to adopt

Adoption can be a blessing for couples who for some reason cannot have children themselves or who wish to add to their families.

In California, the Department of Social Services investigates every person who wishes to adopt a child. A department social worker will submit a report to the court based on the person’s findings, a process that typically takes as long as six months. If allowed by the court, the department can take even longer to submit its report.

California’s family law statutes set the cost of each investigation at $4,500. The CDSS will submit its court report once it receives 50 percent of that cost. The fee for conducting an investigation with a complete pre-placement evaluation report before adoption is $1,550. The evaluation report must be less than 365 days old and meet the state’s family law requirements for an adoption to proceed. The cost of an investigation with a valid report accompanied by a home study is $1,550. The home study should be less than 24 months old when the adoption petition is filed. Once it is filed, a copy of the document and 50 percent of the fee must be sent to the CDSS.

The six-month time frame begins when the adoption agency has received a copy of the court filing and half of the fee. The remaining 50 percent of the fee must be paid on the date set by the adoption agency. The CDSS is not allowed to file the final court document unless the remaining 50 percent of the fee is paid. The fees for all of the investigatory work conducted by the CDSS about the potential adoption are not refundable to the applicant. The state fees cannot be waived by the DPSS, but they may be reduced in some cases.

Source: ChildsWorld.CA.gov, “Fact Sheet,” accessed on Dec. 4, 2014

About the Author:

Dorie Anne Rogers - The Law Offices of Dorie A. Rogers, APC
Dorie A. Rogers, a Family Law Specialist, Certified by the State Bar of California, has been an attorney since 1981 with an exclusive family law practice located in Orange County. She is accepting dissolution cases with support and property issues including the use of forensics to ascertain business value, community interests and to establish monthly case flow analysis. Ms. Rogers has substantial experience in high conflict custody litigation involving sophisticated psychological issues. She drafts premarital and postmarital agreement designed to define and establish parties' separate and community property interests. Paternity cases and domestic violence matters are considered part of her practice. Ms. Rogers is a court-approved and court-appointed to represent minor children.Ms. Rogers consults with individuals concerned about entering or exiting a relationship. She advises effective strategies for dissolution or premarital planning. Knowledge is power and good planning affords better results.Specialties: Family Law Specialist, Certified by the State Bar of California
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