We at Hildebrand Law Office, P.C. have extensive experience in adoption law. If you are planning to adopt a child, you can come to us to get the expert legal services you need to finalize the process. While multiple types of adoption exist, the kind most people are familiar with is known as third-party adoption, in which a child is adopted by non-relatives.
In this article, we will go over a few key things you should know about third-party adoptions.
- You Need to Vet Your Agency – One thing you should know about third-party adoptions is that, unfortunately, not all adoption agencies are ethical. Before you begin the adoption process, make sure you thoroughly vet the agency you are working with to ensure it is properly caring for the children, and to ensure the children are really eligible for adoption. Our adoption attorney can help with this process—she has extensive experience in working with adoption agencies, and she can verify if the organization is trustworthy.
- Biological Parents Can Change Their Minds – Another thing we want you to know about third-party adoptions is that they can fall through at the last minute, as biological parents may change their minds about giving up their parental rights. While this scenario will naturally feel devastating to you, remember that biological parents are real people, and their feelings matter, too. They have the right to change their minds.
- Don’t Take On More Than You Can Handle – The third thing we want you to know about third-party adoptions is that they come with significant challenges. Being separated from your biological parents carries some inherent trauma even in the absence of any other negative experiences, and many children who are eligible for adoption have mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and other challenges on top of that. Be honest with yourself about how much you are willing to take on—if you’re not up for parenting a child with multiple mental health or behavioral challenges, there’s no shame in that, just don’t agree to adopt such a child only to back out later.