i am in need of some advice. here is my story.

My sister is due with her third child ANY day now!! he will be coming home with me and my husband upon his release from the hospital because we will be trying to adopt him. we are gonna try to adopt him, but we arent sure of the steps. first off we where afraid we couldnt adopt because our only income is my husbands SSI. we finally where told by a guy who works for dhs that we can adopt him. we wanted to know safe steps on how to obtain papers stating that he is residing with us not her. we where told to do something called a power of attorney. Where do i get one? one person said that it is just a paper drown up between us and have it noturized? then there is the issue of we wont be able to start the process for atleast 3-6 months. then there was the issue we could go in front of her case worker and sign a form that is called temporary guardianship? well, i am all confused, and we cant afford a lawyer. but also both the parents are married together and still have my other two nephews, they are willing to give us the baby even letting us name it!! your probably wondering why she is willing to give us the baby? she just found out a few weeks ago that my oldest nephew has eppalepssy and grandma cessures. both the boys are under 2 years of age and she is struggling with them now. she had approched me and my husband about adopting the baby and we sadi yes. (after all i wanted one more) now that the time is getting so close we have to push to find all the legal advice i can get, can anyone please help me. i cannot afford a lawyer and i need some guidenss to help with the steps. the baby is due any day and i have everything just waiting. and also i do have two children of our own, and i am already gun ho waiting the arrival of our newest boy!! so please help me.. anything.. i was told about something called a direct consent adoption would be the way to go since both parents are willing. any help would be appreciated. thanks and god bless. chrissy

(the mother and father are both still together and they have two other boys together, they just got married in january)

I'm by no means an expert in adoption however, this is most DEFINETLY NOT a DIY project. I urge you to find an attorney or atleast call the MI DHS and do whatever they tell you to.

I quickly googled "adoption services michigan" and saw a bunch of resources available. Do the same and hit the phones , I'm sure they're are plenty of agencies that can help to make sure this is handled properly.

Good Luck

i am in need of some advice. here is my story.

My sister is due with her third child ANY day now!! he will be coming home with me and my husband upon his release from the hospital because we will be trying to adopt him. we are gonna try to adopt him, but we arent sure of the steps. first off we where afraid we couldnt adopt because our only income is my husbands SSI. we finally where told by a guy who works for dhs that we can adopt him. we wanted to know safe steps on how to obtain papers stating that he is residing with us not her. we where told to do something called a power of attorney. Where do i get one? one person said that it is just a paper drown up between us and have it noturized? then there is the issue of we wont be able to start the process for atleast 3-6 months. then there was the issue we could go in front of her case worker and sign a form that is called temporary guardianship? well, i am all confused, and we cant afford a lawyer. but also both the parents are married together and still have my other two nephews, they are willing to give us the baby even letting us name it!! your probably wondering why she is willing to give us the baby? she just found out a few weeks ago that my oldest nephew has eppalepssy and grandma cessures. both the boys are under 2 years of age and she is struggling with them now. she had approched me and my husband about adopting the baby and we sadi yes. (after all i wanted one more) now that the time is getting so close we have to push to find all the legal advice i can get, can anyone please help me. i cannot afford a lawyer and i need some guidenss to help with the steps. the baby is due any day and i have everything just waiting. and also i do have two children of our own, and i am already gun ho waiting the arrival of our newest boy!! so please help me.. anything.. i was told about something called a direct consent adoption would be the way to go since both parents are willing. any help would be appreciated. thanks and god bless. chrissy

Where is this child's father? He will need to consent to this adoption. You really need an attorney. You will have to pass all guidelines and have a home inspection. These things cost money and if you are not in a financial position to incur these expences... perhaps you should reconsider the adoption. Financial stability is a major requirement for an adoption.

Check with your state's child services department. If you have consent of both of the biological parents it will be a little bit cheaper but you will still have to complete a home study. During the home study they will go through all of your financial records. You could be denied the adoption on the basis of your checkbook. You will have to be able to prove that you can pay all of your own bills plus the added cost of another baby. I would guess that if your family is living off of SSI that you also receive other state benefits (medical, food stamps, etc)? If that is the case and you plan to just add the new baby to your state benefits I don't think that will work as proof of financial responsibility. Also you will have to be able to pay for the home study which will be close to $1000.

You could have your sister and her husband give you temporary custody but the baby's birth certificate would still have their names on it.

Another option would be to give the baby up to another family outside of your own. If your sister gives the baby up for adoption she (and hubby) can choose the family and the amount of contact that they would have with the baby. Some adoptive families are willing to have a very open adoption that would allow them to see the baby.

You all need to sit down and HONESTLY discuss what is the best for the children in this situation (including the other boys).

Best of luck to all of you.

if you cannot afford an atty, the home study, etc, you cannot afford the baby. you have to show proof of financial stability because they will not let you adopt if you are just going to go on state aid. they would rather it go to another cpl who can financially support it as well as love it