Adopting a Newborn

If you’re considering adopting a newborn, it’s important to know that most private adoptions of a newborn in the U.S. are arranged through an adoption agency or attorney. The domestic infant adoption process begins when a birth mother voluntarily decides to place her infant into adoption.

The Newborn Adoption Process, Step-by-Step

If you would like to adopt a newborn, here is an overview of how to begin the domestic infant adoption process in the U.S.

Step One: Choose Your Professional (Agency vs. Attorney)

You may adopt a newborn through an adoption agency or a private attorney. An adoption agency often assists you in the adoption process from beginning to end, including matching you with a child, assisting with home studies, offering support services, and finalizing the adoption. An agency generally offers a full-service experience.

An attorney can handle all legal aspects of the adoption but typically does not assist with non-legal steps such as the matching process or home studies. If you choose to adopt an infant through an attorney, you can expect to conduct more of the legwork such as finding a match and arranging a home study.

Step Two: Complete Your Adoption Home Study

All newborn adoptions require a home study to determine if you are prepared and ready to raise a child. Each state has different home study requirements, but most require at least one home visit with a social worker, background checks, and a financial evaluation.

Step Three: Create Your Adoptive Family Profile

If you adopt a newborn via an agency, one of the first steps is creating an adoptive family profile for birth parents to review. This profile helps the birth parent visualize what life might look like for their newborn in your family. Write from the heart and include descriptions of your home, values, and daily life. Offer high-quality photos that are recent and that capture your home. If applicable, choose photos that feature all members of your family.

Step Four: The Wait (And How to Handle It)

Once you’ve created a profile, you must wait for a match. Wait times can vary significantly between families and may range from weeks to years. This process can be one of the most difficult stages in the adoption process for many families, so it’s helpful to mentally prepare yourself with self-care routines. Try to fill your life with hobbies, exercise, travel, or community involvement.

Take care to avoid adoption scams by using only licensed agencies and attorneys. Also, be wary of direct cash requests and pressure tactics.

Step Five: The Match

In most modern adoptions, the birth mother chooses an adoptive family that best matches her vision for her child’s life. Once you get the call from the adoption agency, you will meet the birth mother in person or virtually to ensure a good match. If you both decide to move forward, your adoption agency or adoption attorney will begin the process to legalize the adoption.

Step Six: The Hospital Plan and Placement

A hospital plan for a birth mother lays out various preferences regarding the birth, such as her preferred method of delivery, who she would like in the room during delivery, and who will hold the baby first. Some birth mothers include adoptive families in the delivery room, while others do not. Birth mothers often create he hospital plans well in advance of the delivery day.

Step Seven: The Legal Risk Period and Finalization

Many states require a birth mother to complete a “waiting period” before she can sign the official adoption consent form. This waiting period varies from state to state, but typically ranges from one to three days. Once the consent form is signed, you may legally finalize the adoption.

Keep in mind that some states also allow a “revocation period,” during which a birth parent may decide to keep their child even after signing a consent form. The revocation period is up to one month in some states, while other states have no revocation period at all.

The Realities of Adopting a Newborn

Adopting a newborn is a rewarding and life-changing experience, but it can also be a process filled with uncertainty. Make sure to practice patience and self-care.

The Cost: Be Prepared

Adopting a newborn is one of the most expensive paths to adoption, especially compared to adopting a foster child. Costs vary widely, but you can expect to pay between $20,000 and $45,000. This cost typically includes agency fees, attorney fees, a home study, and fees for completing legal paperwork.

The Norm: Open Adoption

Most modern infant adoptions are open adoptions, which means there will be some level of communication between your adopted child and the birth parent. Contact can be anything from annual letters to periodic in-person meetings. This is a normal and healthy part of the infant adoption process, and the birth mother typically decides on the level of communication.

A Journey of Hope

Infant adoption is a process that requires dedication and patience, but a successful match can offer a wonderful experience for the child, birth mother, and adoptive family. Remember, you are not alone throughout the journey. 

Sources

• https://adoption.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-adopt-a-child/