How long does the adoption process take?
How long does a birth mother have to change her mind?
How much does an adoption cost?
What is the difference between independent and agency adoptions?
How do I adopt an older child?
Can we visit with the baby in the hospital and take the baby home from the hospital?
Does the birth mother have the right to see the baby after delivery?
What are open and closed adoptions?

 

How long does the adoption process take?
In domestic adoption, there is no estimated length of time to the adoption process. Birth mothers generally choose the adoptive family with which she wants to place her baby. Therefore, there are no "waiting lists" with the next family in line being guaranteed the next infant born. Some families are chosen by a birth mother only weeks or months after completing their Home Study Assessment and Adoptive Family Profile, while others wait a significantly longer period of time. Waiting for the agency to locate a birth mother is only one of many avenues for locating her. Families may find a birth mother from another source, such as a friend or family member, advertising, an attorney, etc.

In international adoption, the time frame varies widely, depending on the country of choice. The adoptive family's chosen facilitating agency has the most updated information and is most qualified to answer questions about the length of the entire process.

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How long does a birth mother have to change her mind?
The revocation period or period of time a birth mother has to change her mind after she surrenders her child for adoption varies from state to state. In Tennessee, a birth mother cannot legally surrender her child until the fourth day after birth. At that time, she goes before a judge to sign the necessary documents and has a ten-day revocation period and the legal process for changing her mind explained to her in detail. A birth father who is not married to the birth mother may sign a waiver of intent at any time prior to or after the birth. A birth father who is married to the birth mother at the time of conception or delivery may sign a surrender four days post birth, just like the birth mother.

In international adoptions, there is no birth parent revocation period, because the children may be considered orphans and eligible for adoption before proceedings begin.

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How much does an adoption cost?
The cost of domestic adoption cannot be totally predetermined. The total investment is dependent on the birth mother's expenses related to the pregnancy. At Harmony Adoptions we charge a small matching fee and reasonable fees for the pre-birth counseling and case management support. Actual expenses are then charged to the adoptive family. Through the agency, adoptive families can pay for expenses related to housing, utilities, food, telephone, transportation, medical services or prescriptions, legal services, clothing, and post-birth counseling. The cost of these expenses varies widely from birth mother to birth mother, with each woman having a very different situation and needs for financial support. All costs are discussed with adoptive families prior to commitment.

International adoption fees also vary widely from country to country. In order to determine costs, it is easiest to research the particular country of choice via an agency facilitating adoptions in that country.

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What is the difference between independent and agency adoptions?
An agency adoption is an adoption (domestic or international) that is facilitated by a licensed agency. In domestic agency adoptions, the infant is placed in the legal custody of the agency at the time the mother surrenders the child. The agency then places the child in the physical custody of the adoptive family during the period prior to finalization. In Tennessee, this is a six-month period.  During this time, the agency monitors the placement via scheduled post-placement supervision visits. At the end of the supervision period, the agency submits a report to the court, recommending that the family be able to finalize the adoption and relinquishing the legal custody of the child.

In independent adoption, the child is placed directly into the legal and physical custody of the adoptive family. There is still a supervision period prior to finalization, and an adoption agency is identified by the court to conduct post-placement supervision visits and submit a final report to the court.

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How do I adopt an older child?
Older domestic children are generally available from your state child welfare agency. These are children who have been removed or voluntarily released by their parents into the custody of the state for various reasons that include abuse and neglect. These children are in foster care or institutions, waiting to be adopted once it becomes clear that they cannot be reunited with their families.

Older children are also available internationally. Again, researching the adoption process in your country of choice is the place to start. Often, profiles and pictures of waiting children are readily available.

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Can we visit with the baby in the hospital and take the baby home from the hospital?
Yes. Birth mothers sign a release for the hospital that allows the adoptive parents to visit with, hold, feed and provide other acceptable care for the infant while he/she is still in the hospital. In many cases, the hospital will allow the adoptive family to have a private room with the baby in order to be with him/her around the clock if that is what they desire.

In both agency and independent adoptions, the adoptive family can leave the hospital with the baby upon his/her discharge after birth. Until the birth mother signs the surrender, the baby is in the temporary care of the adoptive family as agreed upon by the birth mother. After the surrender documents have been signed, the baby is either in foster care with the adoptive family as placed there by the agency or in the legal custody of the adoptive family as placed there by the birth mother. In the event that an adoptive family does not want to take the baby during the time prior to surrender and/or the revocation time an agency can provide "cradle care" (temporary care for the infant in the home of an approved family).

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Does the birth mother have the right to see the baby after delivery?
Yes. The birth mother makes all of the decisions regarding the birthing process and infant care while in the hospital. We determine the birth mother's wishes for 1) the family she desires for her child, 2) the type of adoption she wants - open or closed, and 3) what her wishes are for the birthing plan. We then try to present families to her that are consistent with her desires. The adoptive family is always fully informed about the birth mother's wishes and has the right to decline to work with a particular birth mother if they are uncomfortable with any of her requests.

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What are open and closed adoptions?
Closed adoptions are those adoptive arrangements where the adoptive family and the birth parents do not know each other and the child has no contact with the birth family.

Open adoption encompasses all other adoptive arrangements and may have widely different degrees of openness. For example, some birth mothers simply want to meet and know who the adoptive family is, others may want to have pictures of the baby annually, while others may even request update letters on the baby's development and life or even regular phone calls or visits with the adoptive family and the child.

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