Choosing to welcome a child into your home through adoption is a major life decision that will bring much joy and happiness to your family. Making the decision to adopt is just the first step, however, as you then must determine how you wish to adopt. There are several types of adoption programs you can pursue, and what is best will depend largely on your lifestyle, requirements for a child, and time frame desired.
The following is a look at domestic adoption and the types of domestic adoption scenarios available to you:
Domestic Adoption
Domestic adoption involves adopting a newborn from the birth mother within the U.S. Adoptive parents can use an adoption agency to assist in this process, but do not have to. Parents seeking to adopt a child can also advertise to find a pregnant woman who plans to give her baby up for adoption, and then have an attorney assist in handling the adoption process.
Pros: Domestic adoption offers many pros. It allows you to bring a newborn baby into your life and sometimes you can even be present for the birth. You will meet the child’s mother and obtain medical records along with background information. Further, little travel is involved with this option.
Cons: You will be at the mercy of the birth mother, as she has the right to change her mind up to 72 hours after the birth of the child. It can be stressful for parents to live with the uncertainty involved with a domestic adoption. Further, this type of adoption can be costly, sometimes costing upwards of $20,000. For these reasons, domestic adoptions have waned in popularity in recent years and comprise only a small part of all adoptions across the U.S.
Open v. Closed Adoptions
If you elect to proceed with a domestic adoption, you will have two options available to you: open v. closed adoption. In an open adoption, the birth mother will generally be allowed to send pictures and letters to your adoptive child and possibly have some physical contact. You and the birth mother can define the precise terms of your open adoption.
If the birth mother does not want any contact with the child or the adoptive family after giving away her rights, it will be considered a closed adoption.
There are pros and cons to both open and closed adoptions. In an open adoption, your child will have the option of knowing his or her birth parents and maintaining some sort of contact with their biological family. This can be of benefit to you and your child. With a closed adoption, you will not have to worry about the possible stresses involved with contact by the birth parents. Depending upon your unique adoption circumstances, this option can be better for the child.
Choosing the Right Adoption for You
Domestic adoption is just one type of adoption available to prospective adoptive parents. A licensed Kansas adoption law attorney can explore with you the many possible avenues for finding and adopting a loving child into your home.
McDowell Chartered: Helping to Make Your Family Complete
The Kansas Adoption Attorneys at McDowell Chartered have decades of experience assisting families in domestic, interstate, and international adoptions. Some of our clients come to us with the arrangements for a private adoption already made. Others ask our adoption staff to assist them in locating a child. In either situation, our experienced adoption attorneys can help you create the family you desire. Since 1992, our compassionate attorney team has provided quality legal services to families throughout Kansas, simplifying and expediting the adoption process. Call us today at (316) 633-4322 for an initial consultation.