Step child adoption paperwork Pennsylvania

[Usaph 18]

My wife's young child still lives in the Philippines with grandparents and we're in the process of I-130. Next step once they are here I believe is the adoption process so we all have the same last name, US birth certificate, etc. We reside in PA and I cannot find any good resources online for what paperwork to file, and calling the local court is no help.

 

Seems straightforward, as wife has full custody, but we cannot figure out what we need to do as far as paperwork goes.

 

Does anyone have experience on this for Pennsylvania? We've done all the immigration paperwork on our own thanks to this website and we hate to pay for a lawyer as immigration in itself is so expensive, but if we need to go that route we will. Any idea what that would even cost?

 

Thanks as always!

[Boiler 43,683]

The child has a birth certificate and you can only be born once. 

 

Names can be changed so depends on the etc.

 

Adoption seems to be unusual and I can see why, and of course the procedure unlike Immigration varies by State.

[Usaph 18]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

The child has a birth certificate and you can only be born once. 

 

Names can be changed so depends on the etc.

 

Adoption seems to be unusual and I can see why, and of course the procedure unlike Immigration varies by State.

The state issues a birth certificate which will certainly make things easier in life in the US. Much easier to show and explain a US birth certificate compared to international.

[Family 3,549]

Here you go , a complete guide. Read it slowly and see adopting a foreign born child . Good luck 

https://www.montcopa.org/3654/Adoption-Packet

[Family 3,549]

5 minutes ago, Usaph said:

make things easier in life in the US. Much easier to show and explain a US birth certificate compared to international.

Think through your reasons for adoption, the one you just provided is not a good one as ALL immigrants can function just fine w a foreign birth certificate all the way from LPR to USC status. 
If you choose to adopt as a stepfather, it should be because of your own moral conviction that you want to make a life time legal commitment as parent to this child …no matter what may happen to marriage w the child’s mother .

 

 

[Usaph 18]

20 minutes ago, Family said:

Think through your reasons for adoption, the one you just provided is not a good one as ALL immigrants can function just fine w a foreign birth certificate all the way from LPR to USC status. 
If you choose to adopt as a stepfather, it should be because of your own moral conviction that you want to make a life time legal commitment as parent to this child …no matter what may happen to marriage w the child’s mother .

 

 

Oh yeah that part is already determined. We're just trying to do all the legal stuff too.

[Usaph 18]

30 minutes ago, Family said:

Here you go , a complete guide. Read it slowly and see adopting a foreign born child . Good luck 

https://www.montcopa.org/3654/Adoption-Packet

Thanks that's about the only good resource I could find so far.

[Family 3,549]

Your own Family Law Courts have a Legal Aide clinic and will also be able to refer you to any non profits or Family Attorneys that offer pro bono ( free) limited scope help. 
So I recommend, you start by making some calls and even take a trip there to get local referrals. As you said, it is a legal process through the Courts that you are trying to DIY . Challenging but possible and I am sure many will help you. 
Good Luck 

[jskibo 588]

Not Pennsylvania, but to give you an idea of costs, I hired an attorney in Kentucky and start to finish was $1000 and 7 months. Most of the waiting was background checks on me as they missed that I lived in three states in the past 10 years. 

 

My employer has a benefit that covers adoption fees up to $5000 so it was an easy choice to go the lawyer route. New birth certificate issued about 6 weeks after the final hearing. 

Edited August 17, 2022 by jskibo

[Usaph 18]

4 hours ago, jskibo said:

Not Pennsylvania, but to give you an idea of costs, I hired an attorney in Kentucky and start to finish was $1000 and 7 months. Most of the waiting was background checks on me as they missed that I lived in three states in the past 10 years. 

 

My employer has a benefit that covers adoption fees up to $5000 so it was an easy choice to go the lawyer route. New birth certificate issued about 6 weeks after the final hearing. 

 

Good to know, thanks for that.

 

22 hours ago, Family said:

Your own Family Law Courts have a Legal Aide clinic and will also be able to refer you to any non profits or Family Attorneys that offer pro bono ( free) limited scope help. 
So I recommend, you start by making some calls and even take a trip there to get local referrals. As you said, it is a legal process through the Courts that you are trying to DIY . Challenging but possible and I am sure many will help you. 
Good Luck 

I'll check into that, thanks.

[Ontarkie 13,948]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New life, from Bringing Family of USC- The OP is asking about adoptions after immigration~~