if you have done second parent adpotion...

cymru

did you have to pay a retainer to your lawyer? Both law firms I have contacted to get things in motion want a $5000 retainer in addition to the $300/ hr rate.  At this point we can't afford that.

~Kennedy

ssg73

We have not done it yet (we will but since S is on the b.c. and we were thrown off by her early birth we have yet to get there).  The lawyer who we talked to quoted $1000 for the adoption with no retainer.  That seems nuts!

leapgirl8

Are these big law firms? There should be a lot of small family law practictioners (solos or small firms) out there who can do it for a flat fee w/o a retainer. That seems ridiculous, but I don't have any experience with it myself.

ctbride08

thats crazy! I dont have specific experience w/ second parent adoption, but this is not the type of work that should require a retainer. Have you tried Lamda Legal or GLAD (i know they are new england only, but I'd try to call anyway) for referrals? 

2brides

No. It was a flat fee to do everything - new legal paper work (wills, advanced directives, medical POA, legal POA, guardianship papers from the time the kids were born till the adoption went through, and HIPPA forms) and the 2nd parent adoption. Total it was about $3500.  Keep in mind that it is tax deductable - dollar for dollar (including parking fees, milage, tolls, etc.)

cymru

Okay I am going to keep hunting. I was thinking it sounded kind of ridiculous. The worst is the one law firm is owned by family ( a cousin) and they said they can't waive it. :oP~~~~~ on them.

~Kennedy

cookiemonster03

cymru:

did you have to pay a retainer to your lawyer? Both law firms I have contacted to get things in motion want a $5000 retainer in addition to the $300/ hr rate.  At this point we can't afford that.

~Kennedy

holy crap.

I was hoping this wouldn't be so bad in NJ...

bklynbrides

We had a flat fee.  Our attorney is in NY but is also NJ bar so he was able to do our adoption.  I will have to check what the price was and what it included.   

2dBride

Is the retainer in addition to the hourly rate?  Or do you pay the retainer up front, and then the lawyer works until his or her hourly fees equal the $5,000, and then you have to decide whether to pay more or stop using that lawyer?  The latter would be a more usual use of the term "retainer."