What We Can Learn from Famous Celebrity Adoptions in California

What Is an Adoption Like in California?

Before we get into the individual cases, let’s quickly discuss the adoption process in California. Adoption in California is very much like adoption in any other part of the United States, but there are a few differences based on the type of court and form of adoption you want to carry out.

Adoption is the legal procedure of granting parental rights over a child, called an adoptee, to an individual. This can involve the birth mother or biological mother of an infant, but it often involves an older child in foster care or other similar circumstances. Most times, adoption cases are usually happy moments for the soon-to-be parents and the child.

After adoption, the adoptive parent takes total control of the adoptee’s physical, educational, and social wellbeing, including medical care. You should also be aware that various costs may arise during the process of adoption. These costs vary based on the form of adoption.

It should be noted that adoption can be carried out, not only for kids but also for individuals of all ages. Sia’s adoption case is a good example of this. In California, there’s no age limit for adoption; the adopting individual simply must be 10 years older than the adoptee.

Famous Celebrity Adoptions in California of the 21st Century

A lot of celebrities have engaged in adoption in the 21st century. These include:

1. Madonna: The “Hung up” star adopted her first Malawian child, David, in 2006 alongside her husband. She adopted another Malawian, Mercy, in 2009. In 2017, she adopted two more kids, this time twins Stella and Estere.

1. Sandra Bullock: The actress adopted a three-month-old baby in an adoption process that took about four years to close. After five years, she adopted another child named Laila.

1. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: This former couple has three adopted kids and three biological children. The family is often described as the Jolie-Pitt clan. The adoptions started in 2002, when actress Angelina Jolie adopted a baby boy from Cambodia. After her divorce from her then-husband Billy Thornton and marriage to Brad Pitt, she adopted two more children from Ethiopia (2005) and Vietnam (2007).

1. Meg Ryan: In 2006, the famous actress filed for adoption. After months of waiting, she adopted a baby girl whom she named Charlotte.

1. Emma Thompson: Alongside her husband in 2010, Emma adopted a 16-year-old Rwandan boy who had been sleeping on the streets.

1. Hoda Kotb: Hoda Kotb, a co-host on the Today Show, adopted two daughters in 2017 and 2019. She describes adoption as one of the best things that have ever happened to her.

There are also quite a few celebrities you may not realize were adopted. Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Jamie Foxx, Joanne Schieble, Mona Simpson, Barbara Crane, and Andy Dick all make the list.

How Much Does a Celebrity Adoption Cost?

Despite the general belief that celebrity adoption might be costlier for celebrities because of their wealth and affluence, the cost is actually pretty much the same. The cost of adoption depends majorly on the form of adoption to be carried out, the county presiding over it, and the processes involved.

Below are several types of adoptions and their costs in California:

1. Private Adoption: Private adoption is a type of adoption carried out through a private adoption agency. It costs between $20,000 to $50,000, though the prices vary greatly from one agency to another.

1.  Independent Adoption: This form of adoption doesn’t require an agent. Instead, it involves the birth mother or biological parents reaching out to an adoptive family of their choice. It cost about $4,500, but it can be as low as $500 for low-income families.

1. Foster Care Adoption: This is the adoption of children whose parents have had their parental rights and custody stripped off them by a court. It cost about $2,000 in total.
2. International Adoption: This involves the adoption of a child from another country. It’s on the more expensive end of the spectrum, costing about $14,000 to $40,000 in total.

How to File for an Adoption in California

Once the parties involved know the conditions and requirements, filing for adoption in California is very straightforward whether or not you’re a celebrity. The main thing is for both parties to be aware and agree to the adoption terms.

Adoption processes may vary slightly from county to county and can include child adoption, adult adoption, and private adoption. Based on the form and location the processes may differ, but all follow a particular outline of activities. These include:

1. Research the form of adoption you want to process. This might involve you visiting the court to know more or simply visiting online resources like A People’s Choice to get firsthand information.

2. Fill out court documents: These forms may differ based on the court and the type of adoption. A document assistant would come in handy.

3. Review your documents: Your documents need to be reviewed by experienced personnel. This ensures your paperwork is complete and contains the right attachments. A document assistant can also help out effectively here.

4. Submit your forms to the court clerk: Look up your local court information for hours and other details about your courthouse.

5. Get the help of an investigator. An adoption investigator in the United States helps ensure a good fit for the child. They screen for alcohol abuse, emergency medical hazards, and other potential complications.

6. Schedule your court date. After your adoption court date, once all the appropriate paperwork is signed, your adoption will be complete.

How Long Does the Adoption Process Take in California?

There’s no specific time range for adoption cases in California, as this is dependent on a lot of factors. However, the California Department of Social Sciences reckons it takes approximately six months to complete an adoption process.

Want to avoid delays? Below are some reasons for delays in adoption processes:

• Delay in processing paperwork.
• State’s laws and regulations.
• Challenges from birth parents.
• Issues raised by multi-ethnicity.
• Search for birth parents, including a pregnant biological mother.

There are, however, special cases where adoption can be almost immediate. This can be seen in the case of Sia, who adopted two adult boys in a day. Although this seems somewhat amazing, this was so because both boys were above 18. Therefore, the adoption didn’t require much screening. Consent could be granted immediately. This indicates that adult adoption poses less stress and less waiting time than other adoption processes.

What Can We Learn from Famous Celebrity Adoptions in California?

A lot of lessons can be learned from celebrity adoptions! Here are just a few.

• It is very possible to adopt more than one child at a time.
• International (multi-ethnic) adoptions are common, but they can also be more expensive than a United States adoption.
• It is possible to adopt as a single, married, or divorced person.
• Adult adoptions are less stressful and faster than other forms of adoption

Is It Necessary to Hire an Adoption Attorney in California?

There are some cases when an adoption attorney may be necessary. However, especially in the case of independent adoption, hiring an attorney for an adoption process can frankly be a waste of funds. Some legal practitioners specialize in adoption cases, but with the premium services of a legal documents assistant, you can have a DIY adoption for a fraction of the price.

Not only are legal document assistants knowledgeable about the right form and format in which documents for an adoption case should be presented, but they are also conversant with the nitty-gritty of the process. If you are looking to have a speedy adoption process, a document assistant is your best bet.

How A People’s Choice Can Help with Your Adoption Process

Adoption in California can be a very tedious and tiring process that involves a lot of documents and paperwork. Any mistake in these documents can make the adoption process unnecessarily prolonged. You definitely want to avoid that.

The solution is not necessarily an adoption attorney. All you need to do is to make sure your paperwork is complete, and you can get that done for a very affordable price. A legal document assistant can aid you in precisely filling out and compiling all of the relevant paperwork for an adoption process.

Are you thinking of adopting a child in California? With A People’s Choice adoption can be made straightforward and stress-free. We serve many communities in California, including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, San Francisco County, and much more. Please contact us at 800-747-2780 for further information.