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Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) |
Adoption
can be a win, win situation for all parties involved.
You choose a currently better life and loving home for your
unborn baby. Your baby may get a
better life financially and maybe emotionally then you are able to give
them. A childless couple
gets the baby they have been dreaming about for years.
Always
remember…there is a choice and a way out of a difficult situation.
Please
do not hesitate to e-mail us
or call us. We are
waiting to help you, and to be there for you. 1-800-450-7191
1.
How long do adoptions take?
Depending on state laws, adoptions vary in time. Basically once
contact is made to the party you wish to work through, things will start
to be set up for you. Your part for the most part is over after
the baby is born, so that you can go on to resume the life that you
have, and continue is your life plans.
2.
How long do I have to decide about the placement?
Your decision to
place is on the onset of contact of the person you wish to work through.
However, if after placing the baby you change your mind, you have the time
limit allowed by the state in which you give birth. Some states take
surrender as soon as twelve hours after the baby is born (as long as you
are not under the influence of medication), and other state do not take
surrenders for three months. Adoptions are state regulated, not federal.
Only certain federal laws apply, i.e.: black market selling of a baby,
taking expenses from several couples with for one baby, fraud.
3.
What does surrender mean?
Surrender is a legal piece of paper stating that upon your free will that
you are giving up your parental rights. Sometimes these rights are given
up to the adoptive couple, sometimes to an agency, sometime to an
attorney. Again this depends on the state that you give birth in, laws.
Some states will have you sign consent at the hospital, agency, or
lawyer’s office, while other states require you to sign before a judge.
Also in some states you will have a revoke period after signing, again,
the time allowed depends on the state laws, in other states; there is no
revoke period.
4.
Can I get the baby back after I sign the surrender and the revoke
period has expired? In
most cases you would have to seek legal counsel at your own expense, and
prove that the consents where signed under duress.
Duress meaning that someone was either putting you under unjust
emotional or physical abuse in order for you to sign the surrender.
5.
Does the birthfather have rights; and what if I don’t know where
he is or who he is?
Yes, the birthfather has rights. If
the birthfather is known, along with his where abouts the adoption plan
needs to be discussed with him. For
the most part, he has all the same rights to this child as you do.
Sometimes this seems so unfair as you are going through the
pregnancy, but it is the law. Many
times birthfathers will agree to let the adoption plan move forward, as
they do want to give the child a possible better opportunity in life, and
they do not want the expense of paying child support.
Most states in the United States do have the “Dead Beat Father
Law”, which makes them pay the child support, or they can face a
criminal sentence.
6.
What do I pay for?
In almost every case nothing. Payments
of expenses to a birthmother are state regulated. In some states the
adoptive parents are allowed to pay for everything adoption related and
after delivery support to help you get back on your feet.
In other states, only assistance in medical expenses is allowed,
and in other states no expenses are allowed to be paid at all.
7.
What is the difference between using an agency, attorney or net
workers?
Agencies can
be an “all in one package”. Your
legal advice, counseling and ability to pick from their adoptive parent
profiles can be a plus.
Attorneys
in most cases practice other forms of law and are not strictly adoption
attorneys. They often do not
understand the “emotional side of adoption”. However they are great
advocated for birthmothers and certainly know the laws in the states that
they practice.
Facilitators
are usually working with a much smaller group of birthmothers. Many
facilitators work with attorneys and agencies so they maybe able to give
you a larger variety of adoptive parents to pick from. Facilitators may
also set up your legal and counseling. Many
facilitators are adoptive parents themselves.
8.
Does an attorney always have to be involved?
In almost every case an attorney will need to be involved.
Since adoption is under the confines of the legal system, there
must always be legal representation for everyone involved.
9.
Does an agency always need to be involved?
Only if the state that you have the child in is what is called “agency
driven”. This means that
every part of the adoption must go through with agency assistance.
You still have the ability to work with an attorney or net worker;
they will just need to find an agency to help out as well.
There are only a handful of states that have this ruling.
10.
Can I ask for a certain type of couple?
Yes, the choice to place your child for adoption is yours, as well as whom
you will place the child with. It
is really important to let the people who you choose to work with know
that you are looking for a certain type of couple.
There are so many couples, and singles looking to adopt that the
choice is vast.
11.
Who chooses the openness of adoption?
You do. Again this is a
placement choice. The people
you choose to work with should not present you with a couple that does not
want an open adoption if you do, or a couple who does want an open
adoption and you do not. This
truly is your choice, and always is subject to change on your part.
13.
Do I have to meet or talk with the adoptive couple?
Only if you want to. It is
suggested however, that you speak with the adoptive parents at least once.
This can defray any “wondering” on your part of what the
adoptive parents are like.
14.
What is a medical release form and HIPPA agreement?
A medical release form is a document signed by you giving permission for
an agency, attorney or net worker to gain access to your medical records
in regards to the pregnancy. Some
of this information such as HIV, drug, hepatitis testing may be shared
with the adoptive couple. A HIPPA agreement gives an
agency/attorney/facilitator the permission to discuss the status of your
health with those involved in the adoption plan.
15.
Can recreational drugs and alcohol harm my baby?
In some cases yes, however, if the drug and alcohol use is stopped when
you realize your are pregnant, the risk can be reduced significantly.
If the use continues it can lead to long-term disability for the
baby.
16.
I have done drugs and alcohol through my pregnancy, and the doctors
have told me that this baby may be born with defects.
Is there anyone out there who will want to adopt this baby? Yes,
there are many couples out there willing to adopt a child with special
needs. Many of these people
have special training in working with special needs babies.
17.
Can my adoption be completely confidential?
Yes, as long as you are not a minor.
If you are a minor your parents need to know, however, all the
choices are legally yours to make. If
you are under the age of 14, your parents have the right to make all your
legal decisions.
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