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Tables of Contents for How to Adopt Your Stepchild in California
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
How to Use This Book
1
3
Before You Adopt: An Overview
Legal Consequences of Adoption
2
1
Legal Requirements for Adoption
3
2
The Adoption Process
5
1
Representing Yourself
5
8
Documents to Collect
5
2
Working With the Social Service Department
7
1
Preparing and Filing Court Documents
8
5
Changing Your Adopted Child's Name
13
1
Kinship Adoption Agreement
13
Choosing the Correct Stepparent Adoption Procedure
If the Absent Parent Consents
2
1
If You Can't Find the Absent Parent
2
4
Willful Failure by Missing Parent to Support Child
2
1
Abandonment by the Missing Parent
3
1
Termination of Missing Father's Rights---Out-of-Wedlock Birth
4
1
What If the Missing Parent Surfaces?
5
1
What If the Absent Parent Refuses to Consent to the Adoption?
6
1
Absent Parent Intends to Contest the Adoption
6
1
Alleged Father Intends to Contest the Adoption With DNA Proof of Paternity
6
1
Absent Parent Won't Contest the Adoption
6
1
Indian Child Welfare Act
7
Adoption if the Absent Parent Consents
Consent
2
1
Whose Consent Do You Need?
2
1
How Do You Get Consent?
3
1
Preparing and Filing the Adoption Petition
3
4
The Social Service Assessment
7
1
Getting the Absent Parent's Written Consent
8
2
Scheduling the Adoption Hearing
10
2
Preparing the Adoption Agreement and Adoption Decree
12
1
The Adoption Hearing
12
5
After the Hearing
17
3
Filing the Decree
17
1
Getting the Birth Certificate Amended
17
2
Time to Relax
19
1
Checklist: When the Absent Parent Consents to the Adoption
20
1
Checklist for Los Angeles County
21
Adoption Based on Parent's Failure to Support Child
How to Start: the Adoption Petition
2
3
The Social Service Assessment
5
1
Notifying the Absent Parent
5
6
Who Can Serve the Papers?
6
1
The Papers to Be Served
6
1
Choosing the Method of Service
6
2
The Proof of Service
8
3
Publishing Notice to the Missing Parent
11
12
Try to Find the Absent Parent
11
3
Choose a Newspaper for Publication
14
1
Prepare Documents for Publication
14
4
Get Your Order for Publication Signed
18
3
Arrange for Your Hearing Date
21
1
Arrange for Publication
21
1
Verify Publication
21
2
Prepare a Declaration re Military Service
23
4
The Adoption Hearing
27
1
After the Hearing
27
6
Checklist for a ``Willful Failure'' Action
33
2
Checklist for Los Angeles County
35
Adoption Based on Abandonment by the Absent Parent
How to Start: The Abandonment and Adoption Petitions
2
7
Probation Department and Social Service Reports
9
1
Scheduling the Adoption and Abandonment Hearings
9
1
Publishing Notice to the Missing Parent
9
6
Notifying Relatives
15
8
Preparing the Notices
17
1
Serving the Notices
17
6
The Abandonment and Adoption Hearings
23
5
The Abandonment Hearing
23
1
The Adoption Hearing
23
5
After the Hearings
28
1
Checklist
28
3
Checklist for Los Angeles County
31
Adoption Based on Terminating the Parental Rights of the Absent Father
How to Start: The Termination of Parental Rights Petition and Adoption Petition
2
5
The Social Service Assessment
7
1
Publishing Notice to the Alleged Father
7
9
Searching for the Alleged Father
7
1
The Court's Decision on Publication
8
8
The Termination of Rights Hearing
16
4
The Adoption Hearing
20
1
After the Adoption Hearing
20
5
Checklist
25
2
Checklist for Los Angeles County
27
Lawyers
How a Lawyer Can Help You
2
1
Negotiating With the Absent Parent
2
1
Assisting With Preparing Documents
2
1
Filing and Serving Legal Documents
2
1
Answering Questions Along the Way
2
1
How to Find and Select a Qualified Lawyer
2
1
Lawyer's Fees
3
1
Hourly Fee
3
1
Fixed Fee
3
1
Costs
3
1
Getting the Most for Your Money
3
1
Prepare Before You Talk to Your Lawyer
3
1
Consolidate Your Questions
4
1
Try to Answer Questions on Your Own
4
1
Carefully Review Lawyer Bills
4
1
Appendix 1: How to Use the Forms Disk
Appendix 2
Index