Chicago family law / Fees by service
What Adoption Representation Costs in Chicago
Our usual full-representation fee for an adoption is an initial payment of $1,500 to $2,500, followed by $500 to $650 per month beginning 30 days after the initial payment while representation remains active.
Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Your fee is confirmed in writing before you engage the firm.
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Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Representation fees and the scope of work are confirmed separately.
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Fee structure: Adoption
The fee information below covers representation for adoption work, such as preparing stepparent or relative adoption paperwork or appearing at an adoption hearing. Full representation uses the initial payment and monthly payments shown in the fee table, while limited-scope adoption work is quoted as a flat fee for the defined task. The written agreement confirms the fee, covered work and separate expenses before you engage the firm.
| Service level | How it is billed | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Full representation | Initial payment plus monthly payments | Initial payment of $1,500 to $2,500, then $500 to $650 per month beginning 30 days after the initial payment while representation remains active. |
| Limited scope: one defined task | Flat fee | Quoted after a consultation. Call 312-965-5618 for a quote. |
Limited-scope work is billed as a flat fee for a defined task. Full representation is billed as an initial payment plus monthly payments.
Full-representation fees cover drafting, hearings, motions and phone calls within the agreed scope. Expert fees and court filing costs are separate, are paid by the client and are not advanced by the firm. The written agreement confirms the fee, the covered work and separate expenses before you engage the firm. Any amount shown is not a quote for your matter.
Limited scope compared with full representation
Both options are confirmed in writing. Compare what each covers before you choose.
Limited scope (flat fee)
- Drafting specified adoption documents
- Preparing a particular motion in your adoption matter
- Representing you at a specified adoption hearing
Full representation (initial payment plus monthly payments)
- Drafting adoption documents within the agreed scope
- Preparing motions in your adoption matter within the agreed scope
- Representing you at adoption hearings within the agreed scope
- Phone calls about your adoption matter within the agreed scope
Usually outside the quoted fee
- Court filing costs, paid by you and not advanced by the firm
- Expert fees, paid by you and not advanced by the firm
- Service costs and evaluations, paid by you and not advanced by the firm
- Legal work not covered by the written agreement
Factors that move the total
The same case label can involve very different work. These factors shape the scope we quote.
Your relationship to the child
Whether you are a stepparent, a relative or another caregiver helps identify the adoption work you need. Your relationship to the child and the current care arrangement help define the document preparation and hearing work involved.
Existing records and earlier matters
Court papers about the child's care and agency records may need review for your adoption matter. Incomplete records mean more work to gather them.
Parent participation and disputed issues
Available records about parental participation or consent help define the adoption work you want the firm to handle. Disputed issues involving participation or consent, more motions and more hearings generally mean more work and a broader scope than an agreed matter.
A defined task or ongoing representation
Preparing specified stepparent or relative adoption paperwork is a different scope of work from handling adoption documents, motions, hearings and phone calls throughout the agreed representation.
Bring these to your consultation
- A summary of your relationship to the child and the current care arrangement
- Any existing court papers related to the proposed adoption
- Records or documents concerning parental participation or consent
- A list of the adoption tasks you want the firm to handle
- Questions about payments, covered work and separate expenses
Adoption fees
Frequently asked questions
Pricing and process questions, answered in general terms.
How is adoption work priced?
Full representation for an adoption uses the initial payment and monthly payments shown in the fee table. A limited-scope adoption task is quoted as a flat fee for that defined task after a consultation. Call 312-965-5618 for a limited-scope quote.
How do monthly payments relate to ongoing adoption work?
Our usual full-representation fee for an adoption is an initial payment of $1,500 to $2,500, followed by $500 to $650 per month beginning 30 days after the initial payment while representation remains active, so monthly payments apply while the firm is representing you in the agreed adoption work. The written agreement identifies the adoption work covered, such as drafting stepparent or relative adoption documents, preparing motions, attending hearings and handling phone calls within the agreed scope. It also confirms the fee and separate expenses before you engage the firm.
How do payments work for a limited-scope adoption task?
A limited-scope engagement is quoted as a flat fee for a defined task, such as drafting specified adoption documents or attending a specified hearing. The fee is usually paid up front. In some cases, it can be paid in two installments.
What if you need a different adoption task?
The scope of the written agreement controls what the fee covers. If you need a different adoption task, such as an additional motion or hearing outside the agreed scope, that work is discussed and confirmed in writing.
How can you start the pricing discussion for an adoption?
Call 312-965-5618 for a limited-scope quote and prepare a summary of your adoption goals and available records. The initial consultation is free for people seeking to hire an attorney. We handle family law only and serve Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties.