Tips to a Successful Independent Adoption

What is an Independent Adoption?

With this type of adoption, couples are able to deal directly with the biological parents of the child they are considering adopting. An adoption agency is not usually required; however, the courts approval will be necessary.

Why Should You Pursue This Type of Adoption?

For various reasons, believe it or not, there are some advantages to being able to meet up with the natural parents.

Advantages of an IA

The adoptive parents can get to know the biological parents personality and temperment. You may at least want to be assured that the natural parents will satisfy your minimum expectations, such as possible genetic traits of the child.

In some cases, the adopting parents will then know that the child will have some physical similarities to them. This way the family looks more natural when together and this is important to some folks.

Disadvantages of an IA

You will find that there really is only one disadvantage of the independent adoption that you might want to think carefully about before making your decision to go through with an independent adoption. Since you will be meeting with the parents of the adoptive child you will be able to identify each other.

The birth parents do usually go through counseling, however, their emotions may change over time. As the adopting parents you are taking the risk of later being harassed if the biological parents decide one day that they would like to meet with the child they gave up to you.

Is an IA the Right Choice for You?

I know that celebrities like Angelina Jolie and others are adopting kids from different countries. But they have likely chosen to do this and they have all the financial means necessary to do so.

The adoption itself is very expensive, you will need to travel, and there may be a chance that the child will have difficulty adjusting to your country. There is also the possibility of conflicting laws among countries.

Getting Yourself Out There!

If you decide that this type of adoption is the way to go for you, you will need to submit a profile of yourself and your family.

*If you live in a state where it is allowed you can advertise on your own in the classified section of your local newspaper or you can use a national adoption-advertising consultant.

*You could possibly submit a resume of your family life, jobs, finances and interests etc. to your obstetrician’s office, crisis pregnancy centers and colleagues.

*I occasionally go to adoption websites and browse the adoptive parents profiles. Their stories are awe-inspiring and I have the utmost respect for them. I hope and pray for them all each day.

Finally, if you do choose to go with an agency they will help to do the matching for you, but you will also need to undergo counseling, just like the biological parents. You will also have to hire an adoption attorney to complete any legal requirements during the process.

An independent adoption can be your key to welcoming a child into your family. But be sure to take the necessary steps to safeguard the interests of your new child and family.

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