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| Help for Pregnant Women and Birth Mothers | |
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Adoption Agencies in AlabamaIf you are a pregnant woman or birth mother please click here to see information that is geared to your needs. If you are an adopting family we believe you will find the information below helpful. We begin by giving you information regarding child adoption law in Alabama (what you can and can't do) and then provide you with information on children available for adoption in Alabama. We then relate how we can assist you during the adoption process and finally we provide a list of licensed Alabama adoption agencies which you browse through for additional information. | ||||||
Alabama Child Adoption Laws | ||||||
Before starting to search for a child to adopt or an agency to assist you, it is important that you understand how the adoption laws in Alabama may affect your decisions. Making informed decisions is the best way of increasing your chances of adopting a child. By way of example, we have listed below a few of the important parts of Alabama child adoption law including such topics as advertising, adoption expenses, and the critical issue of ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender). Use of Advertisement It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, hospital, or agency to advertise verbally, through print, electronic media, or otherwise that they will adopt children or assist in the adoption of children. Use of Intermediaries and Facilitators It shall be unlawful for any person or agency to offer to receive payment for placing, assisting, or arranging a minor placement. Birth Parent Expenses Allowed It is permitted to pay maternity-connected medical or hospital and necessary living expenses of the mother preceding and during pregnancy-related incapacity, as an act of charity. Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption No person or other entity may accept a fee for bringing the adopting parent together with the adoptee or natural parents, or for placing, assisting, or arranging a minor placement. Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child The adoptive parents and the parents surrendering the child must attest that no money or other things of value have been paid or received for giving up the child for adoption. The petitioners must file a sworn statement that is a full accounting of all charges, fees, and expenses to be paid. The court must approve all payments made. Who Must Consent to an Adoption Consent shall be required of the following: The mother, the presumed father, the agency to which the child has been relinquished or holds permanent custody and has placed the adoptee for adoption, and a putative father, if made known by the mother or is otherwise made known to the court, provided he complies with § 26-10C-1 and responds to notice within 30 days. Prior to a minor parent giving consent, a guardian ad litem must be appointed to represent the interests of a minor parent whose consent is required. Age When Consent of Adoptee is Considered or Required A child age 14 or older must consent to the adoption, except where the court finds that the child does not have the mental capacity to consent. When Consent Can Be Executed A consent or relinquishment may be taken at any time, except that once signed or confirmed, may be withdrawn within 5 days after birth or within 5 days after signing of the consent or relinquishment, whichever comes last. Revocation of Consent Implied consent due to abandonment may not be withdrawn by any person. The consent or relinquishment, once signed or confirmed, may not be withdrawn except: If the court finds that the withdrawal is reasonable under the circumstances and consistent with the best interest of the child within 14 days after the birth of the child or within 14 days after signing of the consent or relinquishment, whichever comes last. At any time until the final decree upon a showing that the consent or relinquishment was obtained by fraud, duress, mistake, or undue influence on the part of a petitioner or his agent or the agency to whom or for whose benefit it was given. After 1 year from the date of final decree of adoption is entered, a consent or relinquishment may not be challenged on any ground, except in cases where the adopted person has been kidnapped. Please visit adoption law in Alabama for more details. | ||||||
Are Children Available for Adoption in Alabama | ||||||
Yes, through both public and private adoption agencies. For example, in 2004, Alabama had 1,650 children in the welfare system waiting to be adopted of whom 79 were under the age of 1 year, and 449 were between ages 1-5 years old. The actual number of children adopted through Alabama public child welfare agencies was only 398, which represents only a small portion of the total number of all Alabama adoptions (exact numbers are not available at this time). Remember that while you may be a resident of Alabama, you are not limited to adopting a child from Alabama. You can adopt a child born in Alabama, a child born in any other U.S. state, or even a foreign born child. What is important for you to understand is that infants and children are available for adoption in Alabama, in each of the other the 49 states, and in many foreign countries. | ||||||
Can We Assist You with a Child Adoption in Alabama | ||||||
Yes, we can help you and so can any licensed child adoption agency (we have listed several below). By way of introduction to Adoption Services, Inc, I will relate to you a little about myself and our child adoption agency. Almost 40 years ago I (Dr. Vince Berger) began working as a psychologist with pregnant teens in the Pittsburgh city school system. It was very challenging because in those days there were very few services for these young women, society was not yet accepting of unmarried and/or pregnant teens, and the word "adoption" was hardly ever used. I loved the work I was doing and knowing that I was personally able to help so many of the pregnant women I was working with. But something was missing - I did not feel I was helping people enough. So, I set out to provide the personal and professional care that a birth mother and adopting family need and deserve in the adoption process. I started a full service, non-profit adoption agency. Not just any agency, but one that was, and still is, dedicated to helping birth parents and adopting families receive the best and most comprehensive of adoption related services. Over the past 20 years, my staff and I have helped over 9,000 adopting families, birth parents, their babies and children. I love helping people. I work 6 days a week and answer calls at all hours. The hours I put in are long but never hard, since I find so much joy and strength in helping others. My goal continues to be to help you. Accordingly, in addition to the website you are on now and the Adoption Services website, we created Adopting Family Resources and International Adoption Help as well as Child Adoption Laws and Child Adoption Resources and Pregnancy And Children to give you a information and help. I hope that you will call me or my staff so we can help you in the adoption process. However, if you don't want to call us, then please review the agencies listed here and give one of them a call. Do not give up until you get the help and attention you need and deserve. Thank you for letting us help, and good luck. Dr. Berger | ||||||
Adoption Agencies | ||||||
A Angel Adoptions AGAPE of Central Alabama, Inc. AGAPE of North Alabama, Inc. Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries, Inc. Catholic Family Services Catholic Family Services Catholic Family Services Catholic Family Services Catholic Social Services of Montgomery Children's Aid Society Family Adoption Services, Inc. Southern Social Works, Inc. Specialized Alternatives for Families Youth of America (SAFY) United Methodist Children's Home (UMCH) [ Return to Adoption Services Home Page ]
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