Among the most common things you, as an adopting family, may be looking for is information on "how to
adopt a child" whether to use an adoption facilitator, whether to engage in a private
adoption or adoption agency, the limitations and requirements for adoption, what to consider in selecting
an adoption agency, where to find licensed adoption agencies in New Jersey, and the laws relating to what you can and cannot do when
adopting a child in New Jersey. |
Understanding the child adoption laws in New Jersey can greatly increase
your chances of successfully adopting a child. Important legal concerns include the giving of support or gifts to a birth mother or birth father, fees paid to an adoption agency, attorney, or other intermediary, the legality of using an adoption facilitator,
the legal rights of the birth parents and the adopting family,
and the critical issues of a disruption and the ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender). For example,
using our most recent update, in New Jersey:
*Birth Parent expenses that are allowed include: Medical, hospital, counseling, and other expenses connected with the birth of the child, reasonable living expenses, including food, clothing, and shelter, attorney fees and legal
costs, religious, psychological, or vocational counseling during the pregnancy, and, if the child is from a foreign country, reasonable and customary fees and expenses of a foreign agency or attorney. Payments for expenses cannot extend beyond 4
weeks after the termination of the pregnancy, by birth or otherwise.
*A surrender by the birth parent of a child shall not be valid if taken within 72 hours of the birth of the child. The denial of paternity by an alleged father, at any time including prior to the birth of the child, shall be deemed
a surrender for purposes of allowing the child to be adopted.
*Revocation of Consent: The surrender shall be valid and binding without regard to the age of the person executing the surrender and shall be irrevocable except at the discretion of the approved agency taking such surrender or
upon order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction setting aside such surrender upon proof of fraud, duress, or misrepresentation by the approved agency. |
You may be looking for the differences in the waiting period, effort, cost,
and success rates involved in adopting children within your state or in other states (domestic adoption) or even from other countries (international
adoption) in order to determine which type of adoption will work for you. Some specific choices you may want to consider, as the waiting lists
tend to be shorter, are special needs adoption, bi-racial and trans-racial
adoption, and older children (generally from one to 15 years of age) from the New Jersey child welfare and foster care systems. The more
open you are in the type and age of child you are looking to adopt the better your chances of success. You should also decide before contacting an adoption agency whether you want an open
adoption or closed adoption. |
American Adoption Congress is composed of individuals, families and organizations committed to adoption reform.
Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) is for families who have adopted, or are in the process of adoption, from Russia and former Soviet Union countries.
Families with Children from China is a non-denominational organization of families who have adopted children from China.
Guatemala Adoptive Families Network initiates and supports the adoption of Guatemalan children.
National Adoption Center attempts to facilitate the adoption of children in the U. S., particularly children with special needs and those from minority cultures.
North American Council on Adoptable Children is committed to meeting the needs of waiting children and the families who adopt them.
Our Chinese Daughters Foundation (OCDF) is a non-profit foundation that supports families with children adopted from China.
Resolve is dedicated to providing education, advocacy, and support to those who face infertility.
The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information on all aspects of both domestic and international adoption. |
Adoptive Single Parents of New Jersey
73 Tristan Road
Clifton, NJ 07013
Phone: (908) 766-6281
Adoptive Parents Organization of Central NJ
PO Box 8882
Hamilton, NJ 08650
Phone: 609-588-9693/609-586-9346
Families for Russian Ukranian Adoption - New Jersey
904 Cain Crt
Belle Meade, NJ 08502
Phone: 908-431-0318
Latin American Adoptive Families
PO Box 573
Woodbury, NJ 08096-0573
Phone: 856-384-2764
New Jersey Adoptive Parents Support Group
9 Brighton Road
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 863-1166
Warren County Foster and Adoptive Family Services (WCFAFS)
155 Goodsprings Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
Phone: (908) 454-5645
Phone: (973) 534-8175
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