Adoption Attorney

The Adoption Process

Types of Adoption

Independent vs. Agency Adoptions

Independent adoptions are the most direct forms of adoptions as it is an agreement from both the birth parents of the child and the adopting parents that this adoption is consensual on both sides. In doing this, it allows for a more flexibility. This type of adoption does not involve any agencies and is far more private of a process. Laws regarding this type of adoption vary drastically by state so it is important to be aware of these laws when beginning the process of an independent adoption. Adoption attorneys are essential in ensuring a smooth independent adoption process. As you are not proceeding through any type of agency, an attorney is needed. However, this is ideal for those who have already found someone trustworthy they can adopt from.

Agency Adoptions are when adopting through an agency. In doing this, there are far more professional benefits that are offered. When adopting with an agency, they provide the right training and counseling to ensure you are ready for the journey of adopting a child. Agency adoptions often have more coordination as they are done through far more people. You are more often in contact with adoption professionals who make the process of adopting feel simpler as you are guided through this exciting process with them. There are specific agencies for the types of adoptions you are wishing to pursue so are more likely to make the best decisions for your family. Adoption attorneys can also be heavily involved in agency adoptions. In fact, they can directly locate the agencies that best fit your needs. They often can directly refer you to a social worker who is happy to get the adoption process started with you! In addition, these social workers and counselors are there to ensure you are entirely ready to become a parent and that this child is going to a safe and loving home. That is always the top priority of both agencies and adoption attorneys.

Open Vs. Close Adoptions

Open Adoptions is when the birth parents of the child and the adopting parents meet and/or generally stay in touch with each other, this practice has been becoming more popular among parents. Birth parents can have a choice of the adoption parents so that they can feel secure about the family their child is going into. It is common in this process for the birth and adoptive parents to be present during the birth and stay in each other’s life. However, this all their choice.

Close adoptions are the exact opposite of open adoptions are the birth parents and adoptive parents are not involved in each other’s lives whatsoever and most times do not even know the names of each other. Often in these cases the child will generally not meet their birth parents until after they are 18 if they ever do. This type of adoption is rarer of an adoption as years go on. The laws regarding access to information about the birth parents or the adopting parents also varies heavily by state. It is important to meet with an adoption attorney if you are looking to obtain information when dealing with a closed adoption as privacy is very much protected in these cases.

Adoption attorneys are here to assist you on every type of adoption there is and to help navigate you through the long process. The ultimate goal by the end is to change the lives of both the family’s looking to adopt and the large number of children looking for homes. If you do not have much knowledge about adoption or do not know where to even begin in all of this, an adoption attorney can be a great fit for you. You will be directly guided to all the resources you need and have all paperwork filled out so that this exciting time can remain a positive, life changing experience that all parties will remember forever.