Domestic adoption basically means that both you and the child you wish to adopt are residing within the USA.  If you both reside in the same state it is called a domestic intrastate adoption and if you live in different states it is a domestic interstate adoption. The specifics of the adoption process will depend on the state or states involved and the age and level of cooperation of the birth mother and birth father.

International adoption involves adopting a child from a country other than the one where you reside.  For U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries residing in the U.S., international adoption is subject to the laws of your state of residence, regulations of the US and foreign government, and the requirements of the Hague Convention.  Historically, the most popular countries for international adoption have been China, Guatemala, Eastern European Countries and Russia.

When adopting a child you will be faced with several choices regarding the type of adoption you want to pursue.  Of course there is the choice of domestic or international adoption as shown above, but there are also several additional choices. For instance you will need to choose whether to use a licensed child adoption agency or proceed with a private adoption or adopt through a facilitator or adopt from foster care.  You will also need to decide whether to proceed with an open adoption or a closed adoption. It is very important that before you start the actual adoption process that you to learn and understand the consequences and possible outcomes of each of these types of adoption.

We at Adoption Services, Inc hope that you will want to use our services for your adoption, but we understand that different people have different needs and with that in mind here are links to adoption agencies across the USA.

The Home Study is a detailed evaluation of you, your spouse if you are married, your home, and surrounding environment and is required in all domestic and international adoptions with the only exception being (in some states) adoption by a close relative.  Regardless of what type of adoption you choose, or what agency you choose to assist you with the adoption process, we may be are available (depending on your state of residence) to assist you with the home study itself or with home study information.

Special types of adoption include adopting a child with special needs, as well as single parent adoption, adoption by relatives, or step parent and trans-racial/cultural adoptions.

All 50 states' Adoption Exchanges provide you with the links and contact information to find children who are in the state foster care system and who are available for adoption.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in all 50 states can help assure your child of health insurance coverage.  Additionally, Access to Health Insurance for Adopted Children is guaranteed by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 which mandates that adopted children the same access to health insurance as birth children.

Child Nutrition Programs in all U.S. states will help you understand many child nutrition issues and they provide low-cost and free food to children who qualify.

Child Welfare Offices can help you understand adoption law, regulations, and procedures. State child welfare agencies go by a variety of names, such as the Department of Human Resources, Department of Public Welfare, or the Department of Child Protective Services.

The State's Department of Education will help you identify early intervention programs and nutritional programs available to children.

The State's Department of Health can also be a good source of both health and nutrition information that can help with raising a child.

Each State's Adoption Contact can be a valuable source of information about adoption in general and more specifically about the state's child adoption program.

During the adoption process it is very important for you to understand the rights of all parties involved in the adoption process ( birth parents and adopting family), what is allowed and what is not, and what you can and can not do. For instance you need to know whether or not it is legal to advertise regarding adoption, whether or not you can assist the birth mother with medical costs, food, expenses, etc.  If you do not understand the laws you risk having the adoption disrupted. We highly recommend you contact us, an adoption agency licensed in your state or an adoption attorney for the specifics "before" you start the adoption process.  Keep in mind that additional laws may apply in international adoption or interstate adoptions or adoption of a child of American Indian heritage. Click the following link to read the each state's child adoption laws.

There are many types of federal and state government assistance programs that are available to assist parents of adopted children. These include the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, the Family and Medical Leave Act, benefits offered by some employers and state financial assistance programs.

Medical Assistance Programs includes information on medical conditions plus information on where you may be able to get free or discounted medical, dental and prescription care for your child.

Support Groups for Adopting Families provides you with a list of informational resources and support groups. You will find a wealth of information to help you with not only finding support groups, but also how to adopt and how to care for your child after you adopt.

Raising your child requires that you understand infant nutrition, developmental issues, emotional issues and how to explain adoption to your child, family and friends.  Adoption also raises special issues with schools for which you may want the help of a therapist that specializes in adoption.

Obtaining Birth Records can be difficult and confusing.  The information in this section of our website is designed to help you with this process.

Assistance programs for children adopted from Foster Care come in two forms.  Recurring and non-recurring and there are certain eligibility requirements.

Why You Need an Adoption Consultant

There are many risks when you go to adopt a child including losing a child after you have already taken them home (referred to as a disruption), loosing all of the money you have invested in the adoption if the birth mother changes her mind, or finding that there are previously unknown or undisclosed fees that may appear. Dr Berger has helped thousands of  adopting families with domestic adoptions and international adoptions and he is available to assist you no matter what type of adoption you chose to pursue and regardless of whether you work with an adoption agency, facilitator or adoption attorney.  He can help you save your  time, effort and money in helping you to decide what routes to take and the best way to achieve your goal of adopting a child. He can help reduce your risks and potential pain and can help you avoid many of the problems and pitfalls found in the adoption process. You can read and download his free adoption manual or, for more information on how he can help you, please visit his Adoption Consultant link.