Adoption Network Law Center – ANLC

Despite myths to the contrary, domestic newborn adoption remains alive andwell in the United States. Current estimates of the annual number of infantsadopted domestically (excluding foster and relative adoption) range from 25,000to 30,000—more than all international adoptions combined. Moreover, the processcan go much more swiftly that you might imagine. In a 2008 Adoptive Familiessurvey, the majority of respondents were matched with a birthmother in lessthan 12 months, and 19% got “the call” to travel after the baby had alreadybeen 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 thebirthparents of the child, and, in at least half of the cases, the birthparentsand adoptive parents have met. Domestic adopters usually appreciate theopportunity to build a relationship with their child’s birth family. Ongoingcontact is increasingly common, but the extent of contact varies significantly.A baby cannot legally be relinquished before birth. Most experts adviseprospective adoptive parents to be careful about making an emotional commitmentto a potential birthmother too early in her pregnancy.

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

If you’re just starting on the adoption journey, the wide array of choicesbefore you can seem daunting at first–with each varying considerably from thenext! With more options come more decisions, each with its own emotional andfinancial risks and benefits. To help you find the right path, here’s anoverview 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 theirown 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 waitedfor a match. Today, the trend toward openness means you’re likely to meet thebirthparents, who may request ongoing contact with the child. The agency islikely to send a few sets of parent profiles to the potential birthparents, whopick the one they are most comfortable with. Then, the birthparents andadopting parents meet. At least half of the 15,000 or so domestic agencyplacements of infants each year involve such meetings. The child may be placedwith the adopting parents immediately after birth or from foster care. If youinsist on a closed process, your wait may be longer, since most agencies nowencourage varying degrees of openness.

Adoption Network Law Center – ANLC article.

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