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All licensed adoption agencies have their own policies and procedures. The following is a general guide but policies will vary according to the requirements of the particular agency.
The adoptive parents (or parent) must complete a home study prior to receiving the child into their home. This home study, designed to assess suitability to adopt, includes being finger-printed to check child abuse and criminal records. The birth parents (or parent) must attend at least two counseling sessions with their local agency before they can relinquish their rights.
The child is born.
The birth parents will meet with a social worker from a licensed adoption agency to relinquish parental rights to the agency. The timing of the relinquishment depends on statutes of the state in which the birth parents live, as well as on the birth parents' readiness to sign.
The surrender of parental rights is usually irrevocable and gives legal custody of the child to the agency, with the stipulation in some cases (identified adoptions) that the child be placed with the family chosen by the birth parent and approved by the agency's home study process. The agency will then place the child in the physical custody of the adoptive family.
In cases where there is a delay in the termination or relinquishment of all birth-parental rights, some agencies will permit an "at risk" placement, allowing adoptive parents to take custody of the child prior to full legal surrender by the birth parents.
The adoptive parents' agency will conduct a series of post-placement meetings with the adoptive family to insure that all is going well. Typically, there are four meetings, spread over the first five months.
The adoptive parents take the child to a pediatrician, who will complete a medical report to be submitted to the agency. Its timing depends on the state in which the adoption will be finalized, usually the one in which the adoptive parents reside.
The final report suggesting the adoption's legal approval or disapproval is filed with the court. The adoptive parents must provide the court with a financial accounting of adoption expenses.
The adoptive parents and child meet with a judge in chambers to finalize the adoption.*
* Once the birth parent(s) have transferred their parental rights or have had their rights terminated by the court, they have completed their part of the legal process. After the birth mother transfers her custody to the agency, and if the birth father is unavailable to sign consent forms, other appropriate documents must be filed with the court to terminate the father's rights. Various procedures may be employed, depending on the status and the disposition of the birth father.
Copyright ©1998-2008 by Pact, An Adoption Alliance
http://www.pactadopt.org
info@pactadopt.org