Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

step dad wants to adopt 2 step children

my wife and i have been married for a year. her 2 kids have become mine (age 3 and 5). they have different bio dads, one has only seen her dad once. the other has only seen his dad a few times. neither has ever paid support and live a minimum of 150 miles away. how much would it cost to adopt the children? also i have 4 boys from a previous marriage that i pay support for. not trying to get out of paying support but would this be reduced once adoption is complete?


Asked on 10/18/02, 8:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Dorene Philpot Philpot Law Office

Re: step dad wants to adopt 2 step children

Under the circumstances you describe, you would be a candidate to adopt the children.

As to a reduction in child support for your other kids -- you could argue that the adopted kids are prior born and therefore would work to reduce the support owed. Your ex would argue that although they are prior born, they were adopted later and that that shouldn't serve as a basis to reduce the support to the existing kids.

I believe a judge would end up siding with your ex on that issue, though your lawyer would be happy to argue that point strenously, I'm sure.

As far as cost, that varies wildly from attorney to attorney.

I know some attorneys who charge a flat fee of $10,000, which is ridiculous, in my opinion.

I'd say that $1,500 is more in the right range for what you're wanting to do, which would include the filing fee, putative father registry searches, legal notices, home study.

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Answered on 10/21/02, 8:16 am


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