Private Adoption vs. Agency Adoption

It is important to consult with an attorney prior to beginning your adoption journey in order to understand which method of adoption is right for you and to ensure that you comply with the laws in your state. Both the adoptive parents and birth mother are entitled to separate legal counsel, and the adoptive parents are required to pay for a birth mother's legal fees in an adoption.

A private or independent adoption involves a direct placement between the birth mother and the prospective adoptive parent or parents, without the use of an agency and no agency fees. An agency adoption involves placing or adopting a child through a licensed child-placing agency. Most states permit private adoption, but some states require that the legal procedure for the adoption proceed through an adoption agency.

With the internet becoming the central way people research information, birth parents and adoptive parents most typically connect with each other online. Since the laws about how an adoptive parent can locate a birth mother and what expenses can be paid in an adoption vary dramatically from state to state, it is important to have an attorney on your side to help you make sure that your adoption can proceed safely and legally.