The Process
Checklist for Adoptive Parents
- Choose an adoption attorney licensed in your state to guide you and keep your adoption safe and legal.
- Homestudy
- Your attorney will help you choose a licensed adoption agency or independent social worker to complete your homestudy, a report qualifying you as an adoptive parent.
- Start your search
- Adoption Attorney, licensed in your state can help you start your search
- Adoption Agency, licensed to place children in your state can also help you start your search
- Match with an expectant parent/parents
- Understand what fees and expenses are allowed in your state
- Understand the legal risks
- Ensure adoption counseling and other services for expectant parents are in place
- Develop a relationship with the expectant parent(s)
- Consider post adoption relationship (openness)
- At the hospital
- Educate yourself on hospital procedures/etiquette, including release from the hospital
- Understand the birth certificate process from your adoption professional
- After the placement
- Comply with interstate requirements before leaving baby’s birth state
- Complete your post placement supervision
- Understand the process, in your state, for terminating the rights of the birth parents
- Finalizing your adoption
- Follow the legal process to complete your adoption through your agency or attorney
- Attend the final court hearing to finalize your adoption
- Obtain Decree of Adoption!!! 😊
- After Finalization
- Obtain an amended birth certificate with your names as parents and the name you have chosen for your baby (timelines vary)
- Obtain new social security card for child.
- Review your eligibility for the adoption tax credit with your tax advisor.
- Follow through with open adoption agreement
