Do Your Own California Adoption: Nolo's Guide for Stepparents and Domestic Partners [Paperback]

Frank Zagone (Author), Emily Doskow (Author)

Book Description

Series: Do Your Own California Adoption: Nolo's Guide for Stepparents & Domestic Partners | Publication Date: November 2003

Stepparents and domestic partners can adopt a child in California without a lawyer, and Do Your Own Adoption in California shows you how.

Packed with plain-English information and instructions, it's the only book available that takes adopting parents through the entire process, one step at a time. Find out how to:

*decide if adoption is right for your family 
*determine if it's legally possible
*choose the correct procedure
*prepare and file all necessary papers with the court
*terminate the rights of an absent parent
*have your adoption petition approved by a judge

The 6th edition includes the latest forms and is updated to reflect legal changes that now allow same-sex couples to use these streamlined procedures. All the forms you need are included as tear-outs and on CD-ROM.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Zagone has been a social worker for more than 20 years. Co-author of How to Adopt Your Stepchild in California, he now works in the Children's Protective Services Department, helping abused and neglected children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 6th edition (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873379381
• ISBN-13: 978-0873379380
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #602,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Law > Family & Health Law > Children

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy and at times fun way to save thousands on adopting, February 24, 1999

By 

Jason Miller ([e-mail]) (Hollister, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Adopt Your Stepchild in California (Do Your Own California Adoption: Nolo's Guide for Stepparents & Domestic Partners) (Paperback)

This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to adopt their spouse's child and has the consent of the other bio-parent (or other stipulation such as the death of the bio-parent, etc.). It not only provides needed forms, but also has word-by-word examples of the documents you will need to type yourself (for me, that was actually fun!) Additionally, if you live in Los Angeles as I did during the process, it gives you special instructions for filing in L.A. county - very helpful! I had to pay only a $700 assessment fee and 2 or 3 small filing fees and the whole process, from filing the initial petition to the final hearing (which is especially enjoyable) was completed in under 4 months! And the experience brought me even closer to our 5 year old little girl as well as my wife! A lawyer quoted me legal fees of "$2,500 to $3,000, not including filing and assessment fees" before I found this book. You will not only save money, but come away with an amazing sense of accomplishment and a renewed appreciation for your family. I highly recommend this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WE DID IT!, February 24, 2009

By 

T. SIMON (Sunny CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Do Your Own California Adoption: Nolo's Guide for Stepparents and Domestic Partners (Paperback)

This book and all of it's knowledge were better than the "Helpers" at the Pro Per in our family court. They didn't even have on of the forms I needed and they referred me to this book. I thankfully already had it. After reading it I was well prepared for all of the paper work that I needed for my case worker.
The CD was perfect too. I have a Mac and it worked great! Good luck to everyone else. I would bu it again and recommend it to everyone.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time/money - get a lawyer, October 3, 2006

By 

Michael D. Gilbert (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Do Your Own California Adoption: Nolo's Guide for Stepparents and Domestic Partners (Paperback)

I purchased this book to help file forms on a stepparent adoption. I submitted the form that was included on the CD "Petition to Terminate Parental Rights of the Alleged Father". To my dismay, they told me that I was using an "outdated" template, as the Civil Code 7409(a) that was referenced was repealed 10 years ago. I sought help from an attorney who told me that this is now under Family Code Section 7611. I do not trust the forms now, as I fear there may be other mistakes that I do not know of, as I am not an attorney.

I emailed Nolo to see if they had any updated version of this form, but did not get a reply.

Trust me, save yourself time, money and frustration by getting proper legal advice from a family law attorney.

DO NOT buy this book, or you may be embarrassed when you try to file your paperwork and it is marred with incorrect entries.