CHRISTIAN ADOPTION: What To Do

ADOPTIVE COUPLES: WHAT TO DO

Written by Deborah.

Adoptive couples have 5 basic options to consider for adoption.

1. Contact an agency--they will locate a birthmother for you, handle all the paperwork, social workers, ICPC (Interstate ComPact Contract), and all legalities. Depending on the agency you select, you'll have none, a little or a lot of control as to whose child you adopt.

2. Contact an adoption attorney firm--they will locate a birthmother for you, handle all the paperwork, social workers, ICPC (Interstate ComPact Contract), and legalities. Depending on the firm you retain, you will have none, a little or a lot of control as to whose child you adopt.

3. Contact Department of Human Services aka Child Protective Services aka Child Welfare Services in your home state to adopt through your home state foster care system--they will locate a child or a birthmother for you, handle all the paperwork, social workers, and legalities. Depending on your home state's foster care adoption laws, you will have none, a little or a lot of control as to whose child you adopt.

4. Contact a facilitator or mediator--they will locate a birthmother for you and depending on the person you hire, you will have a little or a lot of control as to whose child you adopt.

5. Choose independent private adoption--you will locate a birthmother or she will find you, and you will have as much input and control in the placement process as possible, within the confines of the adoption laws of where the birthmother gives birth and your home state adoption laws, if applicable.

Christian Adoption advocates independent private adoption. Independent, because you and your birthmother make mutual decisions and choices. Private, because your child's adoption is a decision and a relationship between your birthmother and you regarding the child being adopted.

The relationship post placement or degree of openness with your birthmother is based upon your mutual decisions. This relationship is determined by what you agree upon and work out with each other. Your relationship is your business, your right, and your prerogative. There are no right or wrong post placement relationships. Open or closed adoption relationships are a personal choice. Christian Adoption respects the agreement between birthmothers and an adoptive couple.

Christian Adoption couples are educated in the steps of the adoption process, the legalities involved, and adoptive couple rights.

Each state in the U.S. has it's own set of adoption laws. Every district judge within each county, has the authority to interpret it's state adoption laws as he or she determines.

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's needed.

3. The adoptive couple is required to pay for all legal fees, court filing fees, their home study process, and their transportation expenses 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 or shelter, the adoptive couple is required to supply these basic needs for the health and welfare of the child.

5. IF the birthmother needs maternity clothes, the adoptive couple is required to supply them.

Repairing of vehicles, paying a birthmother's airfare, purchasing of toys or clothing for the birthmother's children, cash gifts to the birthmother, supplying unrelated adoption desires, vacations and/or trips for the birthmother aren't required of any adoptive couple. Additionally, in many states these expenditures are illegal and could jeopardize the legal completion of an adoption. All sums of money should be cleared with the adoption laws of where the birthmother gives birth, in addition to the adoptive couple's home state adoption laws.

Generosity is not recognized by state adoption laws as a form of gifts, but rather can be interpreted as a means of extortion and/or bribery.

Before spending or sending money to anyone in the adoption process, it is prudent to investigate the adoption laws of the states involved.

Birth parents don't have any legal adoption expenses. Birth parents aren't responsible for any attorney fees.

It is the fervent prayer of every Christian Adoption couple to adopt God's chosen child.

Christian Adoption couples rely upon the power of prayer and God's promises.

Christian Adoption couples pray for their birthmothers to find their profile on Christian Adoption.

Christian Adoption is unique and blessed by God's loving kindness and grace.

It's not a mistake that you are reading this information on Christian Adoption right now.

We're ready to assist you and to serve you.

Christian Adoption is available to answer your questions, to help educate you about the adoption process, to offer you encouragement, and prayer support.

For more information please read God's Best.

We encourage you to follow God's loving guidance.

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A Christian ministry helping birth parents & Christian couples for over 14 years!

1.800.277.7006 620.251.4405 adoption@christianadoption.com

Deborah S. Niles P.O. Box 243 Coffeyville, KS 67337

We are not an adoption agency, we are not registered, we are not licensed, and we are not professional counselors.