Do you need a lawyer?

Consider:

• Is the State Agency cooperative and helpful to you?
• Are you comfortable evaluating subsidy entitlement yourself?
• Do you need more assistance than is being offered?
• Does your child have special needs the state does not acknowledge

If you do need a lawyer:

• Get referral for a knowledgeable attorney from other adoptive parents other attorneys and adoption professionals.
• Interview prospective attorneys.
• Ask how many adoption subsidy cases they have handled.
• How would they charge you?
• What is their relationship to the State Agency?
• Do they know your social worker?

____ Get a file folder to organize information.
____ Gather all the child’s available legal and medical documents.
____ Gather names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for all important contact people and service providers.
____ Establish a log of contacts.
____ Establish a calendar reminder system.
____ Determine if your child is a special needs child.
____ List all special need factors and all medical, psychological, educational limitations and needs.
____ Gather documentation of all needs, including diagnosis, recommended treatment, prognosis and cost of recommended treatment.
____ Determine desired package of adoption assistance.
____ Determine maximum attainable adoption on assistance package.
____ Adjust expectations accordingly.
____ Explore alternate sources of services and/or funds.
____ Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
____ Frame a mutual and family supportive goal for you and the agency.
____ Make initial request.
____ Keep the process moving.
____ Reduce the agreement to a detailed agreement.
____ Log payments received.