ADOPTION & ART ATTORNEYS IN MARYLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA & VIRGINIA
Domestic adoptions are adoptions handled in accordance with the laws of a state in the United States.
Domestic Adoption in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC
Each state has its own adoption laws that govern how an adoptive and birth family locate each other, the amount of living expenses that can be paid (if any), the consent process and revocation periods and enforceability of post-adoption contact agreements. This is why you need an experienced, knowledgeable adoption attorney to handle the complex legal processes of your U.S. adoption.
A domestic adoption can be handled by an agency, or it can be a private adoption (also called an independent adoption or parental placement). All three local jurisdictions (DC, Maryland and Virginia) allow for both.
However, regardless of whether you choose an agency or independent adoption, private or foster care adoption, you will still need to work with an adoption attorney to complete the state-specific legal steps of adoption.
We can complete every type of domestic adoption for hopeful parents in DC, MD or VA.
Contact us now to begin your adoption journey, or read on for more information about domestic adoptions.
The Different Types of Domestic Adoption
There are two main types of domestic agency adoption: private agency adoption and public agency adoption (e.g. foster care adoption). Both are domestic agency adoptions because they involve the adoption of children within the United States and are handled by an adoption agency.
Private agency adoptions involve infants who are placed for adoption voluntarily by their biological parents. Expectant parents will contact an agency seeking adoptive parents for their unborn child and will remain involved in the process of placing their child for adoption. This includes issuing their consent after the birth of the child in accordance with the adoption consent laws of their state.
Public agency adoptions involve the adoption of older children and babies through the foster care system. These children have typically been removed from their biological families due to allegations of abuse or neglect. While most children in foster care will ultimately be reunited with their biological families, if their parents are unable to complete the court-mandated steps to regain custody, the court will terminate their parental rights. The children will then become eligible for adoption from the public agency.
In addition to these types of agency adoptions, there is a third option for parents interested in domestic independent adoption.
Independent adoptions involve the private placement of children (usually infants) without the involvement of an adoption agency. In an independent adoption, prospective birth parents and adoptive parents find each other on their own through private networking or advertising, working closely with their adoption attorney to legally complete the process after finding a match.
We can help you complete all of these types of domestic adoptions. Contact us now to learn more.
Who Might Choose a Domestic Adoption in the U.S.?
There are many different ways to welcome children into your family. We can explain your options so you know you’re choosing the right family-building option for you.
Many people choose to pursue a domestic adoption (as opposed to an international adoption). There are a number of reasons this type of adoption appeals to them, including:
- The increased likelihood of being able to adopt infants as well as older children
- Wanting to adopt a child from within the United States
- Preferring the increased likelihood of a more open adoption with their child’s birth family
How Family Formation Law Offices Can Help with Your Domestic Adoption in VA, MD and D.C.
We advise clients on their legal rights and responsibilities and provide an overview of the entire process, including the home study process and the differences between private agency adoption, public agency adoption and independent adoption.
We advise our clients on avenues through which to locate birth parents as well as precautions to take when looking for a prospective birth family. We work with clients at all stages of the process, offering services ranging from initial consultations and assistance finding an adoption opportunity to guidance through legal issues, finalization procedures and ICPC. We are retained at various stages of the process to assist clients based on their needs at the time.
We also represent
expectant parents who are considering placing their child for adoption. Starting with an initial consultation, we work through the adoption plan, provide guidance on how to locate adoptive parents and ensure the prospective birth parents’ rights are safeguarded. Birth parents are provided with support and guidance through the consent process and negotiation of a post-adoption contact agreement.
How to Get Started
The adoption processes, costs, wait time and more vary depending on the type of domestic adoption you choose as well as your individual circumstances.
Your first step should be to schedule a consultation with us to review all of your options:
- In this consultation, we’ll discuss the different types of adoption and ART you could pursue so you know for sure which path to parenthood is the right one for you.
- If you confirm adoption is the way you want to become a parent, we will give you a home study referral so you can begin that process.
- Then, we’ll set up a second meeting to discuss the different ways to find a child to adopt, including adoption agency referrals of trusted professionals to help you find your child.
Our office reviews everything in order to give you individual advice and support. Our years of experience will help you put your best foot forward throughout your domestic adoption journey.
Contact us to learn how to begin the domestic adoption process today.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DOMESTIC ADOPTION
There are three types of domestic adoptions:
- Private Agency
- Public Agency
- Independent (sometimes called private or parental placement)
WHAT EXPENSES CAN BE PAID TO THE BIRTH PARENT(S)?
In the District of Columbia, an adoptive family may only pay for medical, counseling and legal services related to the adoption for the birth family. The District of Columbia prohibits paying for living expenses or providing clothing, food or gifts to a birth family. In Maryland and Virginia, a birth mother may receive reasonable, necessary living expenses if she obtains written confirmation from her doctor that she is unable to work due to the pregnancy.
REVOCATION PERIOD
In Maryland, a birth parent has 30 calendar days to revoke their consent to an adoption whether private or agency. In DC, consent is irrevocable upon execution for a private adoption, and a birth parent has 14 days to revoke their consent to adoption if the baby is placed through an agency. In Virginia, a birth mother consents in court in front of a judge three days or more after the baby is born. The birth mother has seven days to revoke. In a Virginia agency case, the birth mother signs a relinquishment to the agency and does not appear in court.