Preliminary Adoption Application

1Application
2Preliminary review
3Fee disclosure
4Engagement agreement
5Adoption services

Free to submit

No fee to apply, and no fee for the review that follows. Money is only ever discussed after we have confirmed we can help.

No sensitive identifiers

We do not ask for your social security number, bank details or card information on this form, and never will by email or phone.

No commitment

Applying commits you to nothing. You may withdraw at any point, and we will delete your application on request.

Please read before you begin

Submitting this application does not create an attorney–client relationship. That happens only when we and you sign a written engagement agreement.
Do not send confidential documents yet. Broad answers are enough at this stage. Records, certificates and reports are collected later through a secure channel, once we are formally engaged.
We will never ask for payment details here. This form does not ask for your social security number, bank details or card information, and we will not ask for them by email or telephone either.
There is no charge for submitting this application, and no charge for the review that follows it.

How you are applying

Are you applying on your own or jointly? *

On my ownJointly with a partner or spouse

How did you hear about the firm?

Applicant one

Full legal name *Exactly as it appears on your government identification

Any other names you have usedMaiden name, former married name, or any name change

Date of birth *DD / MM / YYYY

PronounsOptional

Email *

Phone *

State of residence *

County of residence *

Years at your current address

Citizenship or immigration statusRelevant to intercountry adoption and to some state requirements

Applicant two (if applying jointly)

Leave this section blank if you are applying on your own.

Full legal nameExactly as it appears on your government identification

Any other names you have usedMaiden name, former married name, or any name change

Date of birthDD / MM / YYYY

PronounsOptional

Email

Phone

State of residence

County of residence

Years at your current address

Citizenship or immigration statusRelevant to intercountry adoption and to some state requirements

Relationship status

Marital or relationship status *

If applying jointly, how long have you been together?

Household

Housing type *

Do you rent or own? *

Number of bedroomsHome study providers ask; it is rarely a barrier

Other adults living in the homeNumber, and their relationship to you

Children currently living in the homeAges and relationship to you (biological, adopted, step, foster, kinship). Write 'none' if that applies.

Pets in the home

If you have dogs, what breeds?Some home study providers ask about specific breeds

Employment and income

A general range is all we need. Please do not enter account numbers, card details or your social security number anywhere on this form.

Applicant one — occupation *

Applicant one — employer

Applicant one — employment type

Applicant two — occupation

Applicant two — employer

Applicant two — employment type

Approximate annual household income *A range only. There is no minimum income to adopt, but home studies assess financial stability.

Do you have health insurance that a child could join?

Adoption goals and preferences

These answers record your preferences so that we can advise you properly. They are not a request for a particular child, and no answer here reserves, secures or promises any child.

Which adoption route do you think applies? *If you are not sure, say so. Working this out is part of what we do.

Openness regarding the sex of the child

Openness regarding the race or ethnicity of the childFederal law restricts how race and ethnicity may be used in placement decisions, particularly in foster care adoption. We ask only so that we can advise you correctly.

Would you consider a sibling group?

Openness to a child with known prenatal substance exposure

Openness to a child with identified medical or developmental needs

Your hoped-for timeline *

What level of ongoing contact with the birth family are you open to?

Adoption readiness

Have you adopted before? *

Have you ever had a home study? *

If you have or are arranging a home study, who is the provider?

Do you understand that a home study, criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks will be required? *

YesNoI would like this explained

Are you prepared to complete the full formal process, including the paperwork, the checks and the waiting? *

YesNoI want to understand what is involved first

Are you already working with an agency, attorney or facilitator?Names and roles, if any. If another attorney is already acting for you on this matter, tell us — it affects whether we can act.

Anything else

Is there anything else we should know about your situation?Optional. A few sentences is plenty.

Is there a deadline we should know about?

Do you need any adjustments to take part, such as an interpreter, large print or an accessible meeting room?

Acknowledgements

The information I have given is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge, and I will tell the firm promptly if anything changes. *

I understand that submitting this preliminary application does not guarantee approval, matching, placement or a particular child, and does not reserve or secure any child. *

I understand that this firm does not approve anyone to adopt. Approval comes from a licensed home study provider and, ultimately, from the court. *

I understand that a home study, criminal background checks, child abuse registry checks and further documentation will be required before any adoption can proceed. *

I understand that submitting this application does not create an attorney–client relationship, and that no such relationship exists until the firm and I sign a written engagement agreement. *

I understand that no fee is payable to submit this application, and that any fee will be disclosed to me in writing before I am asked to pay anything. I have read the fee disclosure. *

I consent to the firm contacting me about this application by email and telephone. *

I have read the privacy policy and the legal notices. *

Signature

Typing your full legal name below has the same effect as signing this application by hand.

Type your full legal name *

Today’s date *DD / MM / YYYY

I am the person named above, or I am authorised to sign on behalf of both applicants, and I confirm the acknowledgements above. *

No payment is taken at this step.

After you submit

What happens next, and how quickly.

Three possible outcomes. We will tell you which one applies within 1 business day, in writing.

Outcome one

More information needed

Something in the application needs clarifying before we can assess it. We will tell you exactly what, and there is no charge for going back and forth.

Outcome two

Not a matter we can take

A conflict of interest, the wrong jurisdiction, or a route we do not handle. We will say so plainly and, wherever we can, name someone who can help instead. No charge.

Outcome three

Cleared to proceed

We can act for you. You will receive the written fee disclosure and engagement terms, and only then does the $500 Initial Adoption Services Fee become payable.

“Cleared to proceed” means we are able to represent you. It does not mean you have been approved to adopt. Only a licensed home study provider and, ultimately, the court can make that determination.