[tobeafamily]

Originally Posted by Vicki H

Does anyone know, if the birthmother has signed with an agency is she bound to that agency?
Another question if she does now have to use them, can she choose the birthparents or would the baby go to the next waiting family on the list?

thanks
Vicki

Vicky,

She is never bound to a particular agency. She may choose to do or work with whomever she likes. She is contratually bound to noone.

She may either choose her child's adoptive parents - called a domestic parental placement adoption - or allow the agency to choose - called an agency adoption. The majority of newborn adoptions in the US are domestic parental placement.

Note that choosing her child's adoptive parents does not 'guarantee' openness nor does it require a commitment to openness on her part or her child's aparents. This is separately negotiated. There are domestic parental placements with no or emergency-only ongoing contact post-placement. They are less common though than semi-open or fully open adoptions.

HTH

Regina