Adoption Law

Beginning the adoption process is an exciting experience. Depending on where advice comes from – agencies, attorneys, friends and family, the Internet, even the media – those seeking to build their family through adoption often run into an overwhelming amount of information. Unfortunately, the advice that prospective adoptive parents often receive does little more than create a mindset that there must be a “best” way to adopt.

In reality, there is no “best” way to adopt. The “best” way to adopt is the way chosen by adoptive parents that they are most comfortable with and that complies with all legal requirements. As with every endeavor, pursuing adoption requires that adoptive parents do their homework before committing themselves emotionally and financially to an adoption plan. The first lesson to be learned is an understanding of the different types of adoption.

A good way to visualize the types of adoption is to imagine a pathway, with prospective adoptive parents traveling down that path. A fork in the path represents the first decision that adoptive parents must make. One branch of the fork leads to domestic adoption, with the other branch leading to international adoption. If adoptive parents choose to follow the path for domestic adoption, they will come to a second fork. One branch will lead to independent (non-agency) adoption and the other will lead to agency adoption. Should adoptive parents pursue agency adoption, they will come upon a final fork in the path. One branch of that fork will lead to private agency adoption, with the other branch leading to public agency adoption. These pathways represent all of the available types of adoption. All adoptive parents have traveled down these paths.

It is legal professionals' obligation to assist and guide individuals looking to adopt in accordance with federal and state guidelines.