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Adoption Network Law Center

Despite myths to the contrary, domestic newborn adoption remains alive and well in the United States. Current estimates of the annual number of infants adopted domestically (excluding foster and relative adoption) range from 25,000 to 30,000—more than all international adoptions combined. Moreover, the process can go much more swiftly that you might imagine. In a 2008 Adoptive Families survey, the majority of respondents were matched with a birthmother in less than 12 months, and 19% got “the call” to travel after the baby had already been born, without a prematch.

ANLC is a law center, not an agency, facilitator or law firm.

In most U.S. newborn adoptions, adoptive parents are selected by the birthparents of the child, and, in at least half of the cases, the birthparents and adoptive parents have met. Domestic adopters usually appreciate the opportunity to build a relationship with their child’s birth family. Ongoing contact is increasingly common, but the extent of contact varies significantly. A baby cannot legally be relinquished before birth. Most experts advise prospective adoptive parents to be careful about making an emotional commitment to a potential birthmother too early in her pregnancy.

Depending on the situation, and the laws of the state where the family lives and where the baby is born, prospective adoptive parents may cover some of the living and medical expenses of the birthmother.

If you’re just starting on the adoption journey, the wide array of choices before you can seem daunting at first–with each varying considerably from the next! With more options come more decisions, each with its own emotional and financial risks and benefits. To help you find the right path, here’s an overview of common routes to adoption.

Adopting a domestic infant via an adoption agency

Adoption Network Law Center: hopeful parents-to-be who seek a healthy, U.S.-born infant often enlist the help of an agency. Private agencies set their own criteria on applicants they will accept, some more restrictive than others. In the past, those using an agency had their names added to a list and waited for a match. Today, the trend toward openness means you’re likely to meet the birthparents, who may request ongoing contact with the child. The agency is likely to send a few sets of parent profiles to the potential birthparents, who pick the one they are most comfortable with. Then, the birthparents and adopting parents meet. At least half of the 15,000 or so domestic agency placements of infants each year involve such meetings. The child may be placed with the adopting parents immediately after birth or from foster care. If you insist on a closed process, your wait may be longer, since most agencies now encourage varying degrees of openness.

Adoption Network Law Center

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