ADOPTION & ART ATTORNEYS IN MARYLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA & VIRGINIA
Searching Parents (Prospective Adoptive Parents)
Our team has worked with numerous families, helping them navigate their adoption journey. Many families contact us before they begin the home study process and hire our firm to help them fully understand the process and what to expect from the start through finalizing their adoption. Others hire us as they begin their search privately. Since many families locate expectant parents through the Internet or in other states, it is important to have your own attorney to ensure the legal requirements are met.
There are certain emotional and financial risks associated with independent adoption. When birth parents initially agree to place a child for adoption but later change their minds, the adoptive parents suffer emotionally. Even if the child is not yet born when the birth parents change their minds, the adoptive parents have formed emotional ties with the birth mother and the expected child. If the child has already come into the physical custody of the adoptive parents, the emotional trauma will be even greater.
In addition, the adoptive parents may have already paid attorney fees and medical expenses when the birth parents change their minds. In this event, the adoptive parents will most likely not receive reimbursement from the birth parents.
Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia prohibit facilitation (matching), so we cannot locate a birth family for you. However, we can assist you in advertising and networking strategies, refer you to ethical attorneys in other states to assist you, help you analyze situations you find on your own and represent you in any ICPC procedures or a finalization in your home state.
Many prospective adoptive parents in Maryland, Virginia and DC ask us to assist them with leveraging their profile to attract birth parents interested in making an adoption plan. Techniques include online and print advertising, verbal and written networking, marketing and working with other adoption professionals. It is important that adoptive parents not reveal identifying information in their initial outreach efforts. Instead, it's advisable to have an email address dedicated to the adoption process and/or an 800 number for phone calls that come from potential birth parents. We continuously review and monitor our clients' marketing materials to ensure they are current, accurate and maintain the client's confidentiality.
When a birth parent contacts adoptive parents for the first time, the call can be awkward. The best thing to do is listen to the birth parent, and if they don't offer, ask the birth parent questions about their decision and reasoning, why they selected you, how they found you and what their hopes are for their child. Similarly, be prepared to answer questions the birth parent might have. During the first conversation the topic of financial support should not be discussed.
Most birth parents will want to make sure you are the right family for their child before asking for financial support, which will likely come up in future conversations. Birth parents should also be willing to provide proof of pregnancy from a medical clinic or doctor prior to expecting you to take steps beyond speaking to or emailing with them.
The vast majority of birth parents are making an adoption plan for the right reasons and want nothing more than a secure and loving family for their child.
Some red flags that are not individually definitive but are to be considered on a case-by-case basis include the following:
The cost of any adoption is determined by the type of adoption you are pursuing. Public agency adoptions tend to be the least expensive and sometimes do not cost the adoptive parents anything after subsidies, tax benefits and other factors.
A private agency or independent adoption can cost between $15,000 and $45,000. Some of the factors that impact the cost of an adoption include whether the birth mother has medical insurance, where the adoption is being finalized, interstate requirements and the role of the birth father.
“We believe in working with each of our clients—in support of their family dynamic—to make the dreams of parenthood a reality. Whether you are single or married; or gay; a step-parent, a surrogate or intended parent or a child of adoption, it is our mission to serve as your advocate. With a dedication to the ethical and sensitive nature of each situation, we will help you understand the laws within Maryland , Virginia and Washington, DC for adoption or surrogacy, and pledge to be your partner throughout the journey.”
- Modern Family Formation Law Offices
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