Foster Care, Foster Parent & DCS Adoptions
Are you a foster parent ready to adopt a child in your care? A family member serving as a kinship placement seeking permanency? We’ve helped hundreds of foster parents and relatives across Indiana navigate the legal process of adoption—with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
What We Handle for Foster & Kinship Adoptions:
- Prepare and file your adoption petition with the court
- Answer your legal questions and guide you through each step
- Negotiate adoption subsidies, Medicaid eligibility, and non-recurring expenses (including legal fees, if applicable)
- Help you change the child’s name and obtain a new birth certificate
- Guide you in applying for a new Social Security number
- Provide information on available tax credits
- Represent you at your final adoption hearing and celebrate with you—we’ll be there with smiles, photos, and congratulations
Foster Parent Adoption FAQs
When is it time to adopt?
The best way to know is to speak with an experienced adoption attorney. While well-meaning, caseworker guidance is often incomplete or incorrect. At Berry & Domer, we offer free consultations to evaluate your case and advise you on the right timing.
When should I contact your firm?
As soon as you believe adoption is the right next step. We’ll review your circumstances and let you know when to move forward.
How much does an uncontested foster or kinship adoption cost?
Nothing. In uncontested cases (where DCS and the birth parents consent or parental rights have been terminated), the State of Indiana pays $2,000 per child toward legal fees and costs. We accept this as full payment and do not charge filing fees (typically ~$186 per child) for DCS-involved cases within our service area.
How long does the process take?
Typically about 90 days once consents or terminations are in place. Delays often depend on DCS completing required documents, like home summaries and subsidy paperwork. We actively coordinate with DCS to keep the process moving and meet court deadlines.
Can we adopt if the parents haven’t consented and rights aren’t terminated?
Yes—but it’s complex. We offer free consultations to assess your specific case and provide a transparent, honest opinion. If you move forward, we’ll provide a detailed fee estimate. We only take contested cases we believe can succeed—and we’ve had great success guiding foster and kinship parents through them.
What if the birth parents consent—but DCS does not?
It may still be possible to adopt. Each situation is unique. Schedule a consultation with us to evaluate your options. We charge no fee unless you choose to retain us for a contested case.