Adoption Agencies in Washington

If 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 Washington (some of what you can and can't do) and then provide you with information on children available for adoption in Washington.  We then relate how we can assist you during the adoption process, and finally we provide a list of licensed Washington adoption agencies through which you can browse for additional information.

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 Washington 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 Washington child adoption law including such topics as advertising, the use of adoption facilitators, adoption expenses, and the critical issue of ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender).

Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements
Use of Advertisement
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.33.400(1)-(2)

No person or entity shall cause to be published for circulation, or broadcast on a radio or television station an advertisement of a child or children offered or wanted for adoption, or shall hold himself or herself out through such advertisement as having the ability to place, locate, dispose, or receive a child or children for adoption unless such person or entity is:
A duly authorized agent, contractee, or employee of the department or a children's agency or institution licensed by the department to care for and place children
A person who has a completed pre placement report with a favorable recommendation as to the fitness of the person to be an adoptive parent
Nothing in this section prohibits an attorney from advertising his or her availability to practice or provide services to the adoption of children.

Use of Intermediaries/Facilitators
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.33.390(2)-(3)

Any person adopting a child shall receive from the adoption facilitator written information on adoption-related services. This information may be that published by the department or any other social service provider and shall include information about how to find and evaluate appropriate adoption therapists, and may include other resources for adoption-related issues.

Any person involved in providing adoption-related services shall respond to requests for written information by providing materials explaining adoption procedures, practices, policies, fees, and services.

State Regulation of Adoption Expenses
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed
Citation: § 9A.64.030(2)(f)

Prenatal, hospital, or medical expenses
Attorney's fees and court costs

Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child
Citation: § 9A.64.030(1)

It is unlawful for any person to sell or purchase a minor child.

Consent to Adoption
Who Must Consent to an Adoption
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.33.160

Consent to an adoption shall be required of the following, if applicable:
The parents and any alleged father of a child under age 18
An agency or the department to whom the child has been relinquished pursuant to § 26.33.080
The legal guardian of the child

Age When Consent of Adoptee is Considered or Required
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.33.160

A child who is age 14 or older must consent to the adoption.

When Parental Consent is not Needed
Citation: Rev. Code §§ 26.33.120; 26.33.170

Except in the case of an Indian child, the parent-child relationship of a parent may be terminated upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship, the parent has failed to perform parental duties, and is withholding consent to adoption contrary to the best interest of the child.
Except in the case of an Indian child, the parent-child relationship of an alleged father who appears and claims paternity may be terminated upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship; that the alleged father has failed to perform parental duties under circumstances showing a substantial lack of regard for his parental obligations; that he is withholding consent to adoption, contrary to the best interest of the child; or that he is not the father.

The parent-child relationship of an Indian child and his or her parent or alleged father where paternity has been claimed or established may be terminated only pursuant to the standards set forth in 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f).

The consent of an agency, the department, or a legal guardian may be dispensed with if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the child.

The consent of an alleged father, birth parent, or parent may be dispensed with if the court finds that the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the child, and the alleged father, birth parent, or parent:

Has been found guilty of rape or incest where the child was the victim of the rape or incest
Has been found guilty of rape or incest where the other parent of the child was the victim of the rape or incest and the child was conceived as a result of the rape or incest

When Consent Can Be Executed
Citation: Rev. Code §§ 26.33.080; 26.33.160

A petition for relinquishment, together with the written consent to adoption, may be filed before the child's birth. If the child is an Indian child, the petition and consent shall not be signed until at least 10 days after the child's birth and shall be recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. § 1913(a).
The consent will not be presented to the court until 48 hours after it is signed or 48 hours after the birth of the child, whichever occurs later. In the case of a consent to an adoption of an Indian child, no consent shall be valid unless the consent is executed in writing more than 10 days after the birth of the child.

Revocation of Consent
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.33.160

Consent to adoption is revocable by the consenting party at any time before the consent is approved by the court. The revocation may be made in either of the following ways:
Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval.
Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within 48 hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within 48 hours after the birth of the child. The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written.
Consent to adoption may not be revoked after it has been approved by the court. Within 1 year after approval, a consent may be revoked for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent, or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given. A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than 1 year after it is approved by the court.

In the case of consent to an adoption of an Indian child, consent may be withdrawn for any reason at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption. Consent may be withdrawn for fraud or duress within 2 years of the entry of the final decree of adoption.

Rights of Presumed (Putative) Fathers
Registry/Paternity Requirements to Receive Notice
Citation: §§ 26.26.320; 26.33.110

A man claiming to be the father of a child may sign an acknowledgment of paternity with the intent to establish paternity.
The putative father must file a claim of paternity or respond to the petition for termination of rights within 20 days of the date of service of the petition if served within the State, or 30 days if served outside of the State.

Please visit adoption law in Washington for more details.

Yes, through both public and private adoption agencies.  For example, in 2004, Washington had 2,669 children in the welfare system waiting to be adopted of whom 110 were under the age of 1 year, and 1,155 were between ages 1-5 years old. The actual number of children adopted through Washington public child welfare agencies was only 1,245, which represents only a small portion of the total number of all Washington adoptions (exact numbers are not available at this time).

Remember that while you may be a resident of Washington, you are not limited to adopting a child from Washington.  You can adopt a child born in Washington, 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 Washington, in each of the other the 49 states, and in many foreign countries.

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
and the staff of Adoption Services

A Child's Dream
PO Box 680
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Phone: (360) 589-6533
Fax: (360) 598-6729
Toll-Free: (800) 247-8280

Adoption Advocates International
401 East Front Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone: (360) 452-4777
Fax: (360) 452-1107

Amara Parenting and Adoption Services
123 16th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 260-1700
Fax: (206) 260-1777
Toll-Free: (800) 239-9238

Bethany Christian Services
19936 Ballinger Way, NE
Suite D
Seattle, WA 98155
Phone: (206) 367-4604
Fax: (206) 367-1860
Toll-Free: (800) 733-4604

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
133 Railroad Avenue
Suite 100
Bellingham, WA 98225-5054
Phone: (360) 676-2164
Toll-Free: (888) 300-2493

Catholic Family and Child Service of Yakima (CFCS)
5301-C Tieton Drive
Suite C
Yakima, WA 98908
Phone: (509) 965-7100
Fax: (509) 966-9750
Toll-Free: (800) 246-2962

Children's Home Society of Washington
PO Box 15190
3300 NE 65th Street
Seattle, WA 98115-0190
Phone: (206) 695-3200
Fax: (206) 695-3201

Children's Home Society of Washington, North Central Region
1014 Walla Walla Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98801-1523
Phone: (509) 663-0034

Children's Home Society of Washington, Southwest Area
PO Box 605
309 West 12th Street
Vancouver, WA 98666
Phone: (360) 695-1325

Children's Home Society of Washington, West Central Area
201 South 34th
Tacoma, WA 98408
Phone: (253) 472-3355

LDS Family Services
100 North Mullan Road
Suite 202
Spokane, WA 99206-6848
Phone: (509) 926-6581
Fax: (509) 921-1375
Toll-Free: (800) 528-1704

Lutheran Community Services North West
433 Minor Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 694-5700

New Hope Children and Family Agency
19304 King's Garden Drive North
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: (206) 363-1800
Fax: (206) 363-0318

UJIMA Community Services (One Church, One Child of Washington State, Inc.)
6419 Martin Luther King Junior Way South
Seattle, WA 98118-3149
Phone: (206) 760-3456
Fax: (206) 760-5678
Toll-Free: (800) 88CHILD

World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP)
PO Box 88948
Seattle, WA 98138
Phone: (206) 575-4550
Fax: (206) 575-4148
Toll-Free: (800) 732-1887

If you are looking for a child adoption agency simply click the link below for the state to see a list of the adoption agencies in that state.

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 or contact him by phone (1-800-943-0400) or email.

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