What is involved in legal adoption and how long does it take?

Hire an experienced reputable adoption attorney, one that belongs to the Americanm Academt of Adoption attorneys. Every atty I have encountered professionally , that is a memebr of this org, have been very open and follow the law.
The attorney will make the correct efforts to terminate the parenst rights ( which takes more that signing papers)
Since you are not a relative, you will have to have a background check, etc There is mch to be dealt with, and it doesn't sound like you have much time. If the parents rights have benn terminated and the guardian dies before your efforts are complete, the children will be made wards of the state and placed in foster care until you finalize your efforts. If thathappens it will complicate matters and anyone else that has claim, blood relative can challenge your adotption.
I hope I have kit a fire under you. And being "babies' , you would be surprised at the people suddenly interested.


http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/

Thank's for the info. My firends husband passed away on 09/07/2009. She has conservatory rights to both children thru the courts. I was hoping she would be able adopt the grandchildren prior to her husband's death for the purpose of drawing social secuirty on the children. The parents of these precious babies are in prision and will never take responsibility for them financially.

I am so sorry. i guess my fire lighting was too late. I understand the need for ss and it is legitiamte and EARNED benefit from the husband, the de facto father. An experienced attorney should be able to either gain their consent or involuntarily terminat etheir rights; after all the best ineterst of the children does not appear to lie with the incarcerated parents.
Your friend has my sympathies, I just got word about ahour ago that my baby sister has 2-3 months with her brain cancer, so I undertsand the grief. But , she now has something to move her life foreard, enduring these little one shave the best possible future. Convey my condolances.
If there has been a downward income shift she may now be eleigible for free or low cost legal assistance through legal aid
she should apply anyway as they may have a reccomendation if she does not meet the income requirements
for the closest office
www.lsc.gov

best wishes