Private Adoption

From LoveToKnow Baby

Before you begin the adoption process, you will need to find out as much information as possible about private adoptions, including state licensing laws, fees, and potential problems.

Private Adoption Definition

A private adoption is an adoption handled by a privately funded and licensed agency. While private adoption agencies can handle all kinds of adoptions, they are most often used for the adoption of infants and very young children.

Private Adoption Fees

If you choose a private adoption agency, you will discover that the fees can vary greatly depending on the type of adoption and other factors. Some agencies actually use a sliding fee scale, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000. If you are adopting an older child or a child with special needs, your fees may be significantly lower than what they might be for a newborn.

Before you sign any adoption agreement, you should receive a detailed fee schedule. While adoptions expenses can vary greatly, you should know about all of the costs up-front. If you have a questions about any of the expenses, and your question is not answered adequately enough to satisfy you, then check out some other agencies.

Adoption Process

Private adoption agencies match parents with children in several different ways. Sometimes agencies often search for parents to match with a particular child based on religious preferences, race, and special needs issues. In many private adoption agencies, the birth mothers select the prospective parents by searching through detailed portfolios that prospective parents have made. Once they've made their choice, the agency then approaches the prospective adoptive parents with the details of the adoption. This is most common with newborn adoptions.

Time Frame

How long can you expect to wait before adopting your child? Well, that can depend on many factors. If you are willing to adopt an older child or a child with special needs, you may not have to wait longer than the time it takes to process all of the paperwork, which will only be a few months. However, if you are wanting to adopt an infant, your wait time may depend on the birth mother. If she will be the one to choose the adoptive parents, you may wait anywhere from a few months to a few years. Before you begin the adoption process, find out the average time frame for an adoption process with the agency you have chosen. Ask them how many children they have placed with families in the last two years.

Private Adoption Problems

Although many adoptions are handled successfully with few problems, potential parents need to understand that problems can arise. They also need to find out in advance how the private adoption agency will handle these potential problems. Problems can include the following: