Infant or Newborn Adoption

Infant adoption is what most people imagine when they think about adoption. Infant adoptions usually happen when a woman discovers she is pregnant and chooses to make an adoption plan for her child. The expectant parent or parents typically select the adopting parents and together, both parties determine what level of ongoing relationship will exist after the child is born. Most of the time, the adopting parents leave the hospital with the baby.

A newborn or infant adoption can be accomplished through a licensed adoption agency, or privately or independently, with the assistance of an attorney.

Infant Adoption - Keith Wallace Law
Adopt a Baby - Keith Wallace Law

Agency Adoption vs. Private Adoption

Agency Adoption

In a traditional agency adoption, the licensed adoption agency provides services for the adopting parents, as well as the birthmother or birthparents. These services likely include:

  • completing a home study for the adopting parents
  • providing pregnancy counseling for the expectant parents
  • helping adopting parents match with an expectant parent considering adoption
  • coordinating communication between the adopting parents and birthparents
  • handling some of the required paperwork for the adoption

Working with an adoption agency can be a good approach for adopting parents, but as with all adoptions, adopting parents must balance the risks and costs associated with using an agency. Typically, agencies include a substantial upfront fee with no assurances of a successful adoption. Some agencies also fail to discuss alternative approaches with adopting parents, such as working with multiple agencies simultaneously or personal outreach and advertising. Even when adopting parents work with a traditional adoption agency, adopting parents will need their own attorney.

As your attorney in a traditional agency adoption, I am always available to speak with you, review documents, and make sure the agency is doing what it committed to do.

One thing many adopting parents get frustrated with is the lack of communication by their agency during their adoption. You can always reach me and speak directly with me. When you have questions and concerns, I will immediately respond. I treat adopting parents the way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes.

Private (Independent) Adoption

In a private or independent adoption, adopting parents often start their adoption journey by consulting with an experienced adoption attorney. Your attorney should provide you with extensive information, including an explanation of the adoption process from start to finish, as well as the many different options adopting parents have throughout their adoption.

One of the first services I provide to adopting parents is to explain the many paths for their adoption. This includes detailed information about how to:

  • select an agency to complete your home study and get approved to adopt
  • create an effective adoption profile for expectant parents considering adoption
  • get yourself the greatest exposure possible to pregnant women who are considering adoption for their baby

I’ll also share cost information and the benefits and risks involved in the different adoption paths.

I am available throughout your adoption journey and you can always reach me—I answer my phone. Additionally, I will make certain that all of the legal steps are correctly and timely completed until you leave the hospital with your child and the adoption is finalized. I have been privileged to assist in thousands of adoptions and can provide you trustworthy information and guidance.

Interstate (ICPC) Adoption

If the baby is born in state other than where you reside, you’ll have to go through the ICPC process. ICPC stands for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. ICPC is an agreement among all 50 states that establishes specific requirements that you must meet before a child can be moved across state lines for the purpose of adoption. Because you cannot take your baby across state lines until this legal process is completed, you may need to stay in the baby’s state for a week or even more. It’s important to plan for this possibility.

I can help you through the ICPC process by ensuring that this procedure is completed as quickly as possible. Through decades of working with countless states, I’ve learned that the keys to moving through the process quickly and successfully are to prepare the many documents that are required beforehand, submit the documents through the quickest means possible to the sending and receiving state ICPC administrators, and continually following up until we receive ICPC approval.

Cost of Infant Adoption

The cost for an infant or newborn adoption can vary significantly, depending in part, on where adopting parents and birthmother live. There are many factors, however, that impact the total costs of an infant adoption.

You can estimate that adopting through a traditional agency will cost between $30,000 and $50,000. In a private or independent infant or newborn adoption, your total costs will typically be less—between $12,500 and $22,000. My fees for representing Adopting Parents in an infant adoption average between $3,500 and $4,000.

Every adoption will include the following costs:

  • a home study
  • locating and matching with a birthmother
  • possible birthmother counseling and other support
  • legal fees
  • post-placement reports

If you pursue a traditional agency adoption, there will be additional agency fees, some of which will include the costs of locating and being matched with a birthmother. Also, if you are matched with a birthmother residing in another state, there will obviously be travel and lodging expenses until we complete the ICPC requirements and you receive ICPC approval and can return home.