Birth Parents: What to Do

Birth parent(s) have 5 basic options to consider for placement.

1. Contact an agency--they will locate a family for you, handle all the paperwork and legalities. Depending on the agency you contact, you will have none, a little or a lot of control as to who adopts your child.

2. Contact an adoption attorney firm--they will locate a family for you, handle all the paperwork and legalities. Depending on the firm you contact, you will have none, a little or a lot of control as to who adopts your child.

3. Contact DHS or CWS in your home state to work with and through the state system--they will locate a family for you, handle all the paperwork and legalities. Depending on the state agency you contact, you will have none, a little or a lot of control as to who adopts your child.
4. Contact a facilitator, mediator or liason--they will locate a family for you and depending on the person you contact, you will have a little or a lot of control as to whom adopts your child.

5. Choose independent private adoption--you will locate a family for your child and you will have as much input and control in the placement--as you want--within the confines of the adoption laws of your state or in the state you deliver your baby.

At Christian Adoption, we are strong advocates for option #5, independent private adoption. Independent, because you make the choices. Private, because your child's placement is a decision/relationship between you and the Christians that you choose to adopt your child.

The degree of open-ness with whomever adopts your child is something you decide and work out with each other. This is your business, your right, and your prerogative. There are no 'right' and 'wrong' relationships--the 'open' or 'closed' adoption relationship is one of personal choice.

The Christians that list with our service have been educated in the steps of the adoption process, the legalities that are required to be fulfilled, and what their rights are in their pursuit of adoption. Each state in the U.S. has it's own unique and individual set of adoption laws. Additionally, within a state, each county district judge has authority in interpreting the adoption laws within the state.

Nationally/legally there are 3 basic financial obligations for the adoptive couple.

1. IF the birthmother does not have insurance, then the adoptive couple is required to pay medical expenses.

2. IF the birthmother needs counseling, then the adoptive couple is required to pay for the counseling, AS LONG AS it is needed.

3. The adoptive couple is required to pay for all legal fees, court filing fees, their home study process, and their transportation fees to the location of the child.

Most states (but not all) include these additional financial obligations for the adoptive couple.

4. IF the birthmother needs food/shelter, then the adoptive couple is required to supply these basics for the health and welfare of the child.

5. IF the birthmother needs maternity clothes, then the adoptive couple is required to purchase maternity clothes.

The repairing of vehicles, paying for a birthmother's airfare, the purchasing of toys/clothes/items for any existing children of a birthmother, cash to a birthmother for unrelated adoption needs--MUST all be cleared with an adoption attorney in the home state of the adoptive couple and the birthmother. Generosity is not recognized by adoption law as loving gifts, but is often interpreted as forms of bribery and/or extortion. BEFORE YOU SPEND ANY MONEY OR SEND ANY MONEY TO ANYONE IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS, INVESTIGATE THE ADOPTION LAWS OF THE STATES INVOLVED.

Birth parent(s) do not have any placement fees to pay. They are not responsible to pay for attorney fees. However, each birth parent(s) is responsible to care for the welfare of their unborn child, making every effort to provide the best environment for their baby.

It is the fervent prayer of every Christian on our web site to adopt a child that is God's best for them. These Christians recognize the power of prayer and pray for birthmothers to find the adoptive couples that have been led to list on our web site. They also pray for the birthmothers to find the right Christians for her child's placement. Our web site is unique and blessed by God's loving kindness and grace. It is no mistake that you are reading this information on our web site at this time. We are ready to help you with your placement choices. We are available to answer your questions, to help educate you about the adoption process, to offer you encouragement, support, and our prayers.

Credits: Christian Adoption