Domestic Adoption: Types

If you are considering a domestic child adoption it is important that you understand the types of child adoption and how they are different.  This will help you in making the right choices and help make your adoption dreams come true.

One of the ways to differentiate between adoptions is to classify them as either a domestic child adoption or an international child adoption.  The information on this link is designed to help you learn about the domestic child adoption process. A differ link will help you with an international child adoption.

An agency adoption and a private adoption, if successful, both end with the fulfillment of a dream, that of adopting a child.  However, the route to get there can be very different and the risks involved in each are also different. Please read this section on Agency and Private Child Adoption.

There are literally thousands of children in foster care throughout the U.S. who are in need of families to live with and families to adopt them.  Foster care adoption through a state or local foster care program is an excellent option for many people.

An adoption facilitator may help coordinate or arrange an adoption by “matching” a birth mother with prospective adoptive parents. If they are not paid, there is no problem but if they are paid it is another story.  Using an adoption facilitator is very different from using a licensed adoption agency or licensed adoption attorney.

The distinction between intrastate and interstate child adoption is very important since each type of adoption means a different set of legal requirements. An intrastate adoption must meet the requirements of only one state while an interstate adoption must meet the requirements of at least two states as well as the Interstate Compact Act.

All too often adopting families and birth parents limit the type of adoption they want without really understanding the differences between an open adoption and closed adoption.  Whether an adoption is open or closed will depend on what you want, what the birth mother and birth father request, what your state allows, and what agency you select.

As an adopting family your goal is to adopt a child.  To do this you will need to find a potential placement where your adoption requirements or restrictions and the restrictions of the birth parents, the state and federal governments, and the child adoption agency are all consistent with each other.

A Home Study is required in almost adoption that does not involve a close blood relative.  Accordingly, the Home Study is of critical importance to you and your plans.

Selecting the child adoption agency you will work with is one of the critical early decisions.  You need to see if the agency fits with your needs and desires.  We suggest you consider some of the questions and issues addressed on this link in evaluating the agency.

On this domestic adoption agencies link you will find information about us, about adoption agencies in all 50 states, and also about the risks involved in not using a licensed child adoption agency.