Adoptions arranged without using an adoption agency are called independent or private adoption. These types of adoptions are legal in all States except Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Minnesota (at the time of this writing). With independent and private adoptions, the pregnant mother needs to find an attorney to represent her. It is important to find an attorney who doesn’t charge a fee if the mother decides not to place her baby for adoption. She would also need to find adoptive parents. Here’s some information about how to find both of these:
To Find an Attorney
- Legal Aid Is a service available in most communities for people who can’t afford a private attorney. Often legal aid services are located in university law schools. Some States will allow the adoptive parents to pay the legal fees, so going to Legal Aid may not be needed in these cases.
- State Attorney Association or the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys These groups offer referrals to a local attorney who will be able to handle your adoption plan. Pregnant mothers who want to make a private or independent adoption plan might want to visit the website for the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys at this link or call (202) 832-2222 for more information.
To Find Adoptive Parents
- Personal Ads, Many newspapers carry advertising from parents wanting to adopt. You can read the ads and contact the potential adoptive parents by phone. If the couple seems like a possible family you might want to work with, have your attorney call their attorney. The attorneys work out all the legal details required by your state and help make an adoption plan based on what you and the adoptive parents want.
- Your Doctor may know of couples who are interested in adopting a baby, and may be able to help arrange talking to these families.
- Adoptive Parent Support Groups, Parents who have already adopted usually know other people interested in adopting. Some Adoptive parent groups include parents who are not yet placed with a baby or child.
- National Matching Services and Internet sites, These services help expecting mothers connect with interested adoptive parents. The Parent Profiles website is a great place to search profiles of waiting adoptive families.
- Personal referrals are always a possible choice. Ask friends, family and members of your church or other groups you belong to if they know of any possible adoptive parents.
There are many hopeful and waiting adoptive parents sometimes within your own family or circle of friends if you are interested in an open adoption starting here might be a great way to begin. The Important thing is that as the mother you feel comfortable with the Adoption Plan you make and that you are able to be as active in the process as you would like to be.
Photo credit Jyn Meyer Notice of use given) for this blog entry: 
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For more information about parenting special needs children you might want to visit the Families.com Special Needs Blog and the Mental Health Blog. Or visit my personal website.