[ani26]

I decided to adopt from a Christian non profit agency in my city. I have been told by several people that nobody likes to adopt domestically because later you get your baby taken away from you because the father didn't sign. We're in Florida.

Is this true?? Any advice on adopting in the US?

[babydubs5]

From what I have read and talked about with people in our agency, that is a neglegent act on behalf of the lawyer and agency.... they should ensure the father is aware and has also signed the release of rights.... I would highly suggest getting
THE COMPLETE ADOPTION BOOK by Laura Beauvais-Godwin and Raymond Godwin esq.

it lists a lot of the regulations for each state, adn it discusses both domestic and international law.

Honestly, if you hire a competent attorney who isnt it in for the money only, and a good agency, then you should be OK, and I am not saying that something wont go wrong, but its less likely since you are abiding by the law and doing everythign the correct way.

Good luck.

[tobeafamily]

One of the risks of a domestic parental placement adoption is that the child's biological parents - either mother or father - may decide against placing and choose to parent. Accepting a placement of a child before both biological parents have voluntarily terminated their parental rights - or, in the case where the biological father us unknown, their rights have been terminated by the court ("any unknown birth father" proceedings) is called an at-risk adoption. That means that there is a risk that the child may be reclaimed by one or both of their biological parents.

Because of this, some couples decide not to accept an at-risk placement under any circumstances. In many others, a licensed private foster care is used as an intermediate step until all rights are terminated.

I will say that reclaimations are not common in domestic parental placement. There are no independent statistics around this, so it's impossible to say definitively. There are also 'red flags' that help prospective APs understand the magnitude of risk, though nothing is ever certain until paperwork is filed.

As far as 'nobody will adopt domestically' I would say that's very inaccurate. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of couples and families seeking to adopt through domestic parental placement - far more than there are expectant parents making an adoption plan. Even given that, I fully believe that it's a realistic expectation that you can adopt a newborn of any ethnic background domestically within a year.

My best advice is this:

Be heavily skeptical of sweeping statements like 'all of' or 'nobody does' because they're usually not accurate.

Go to the library and read everything and anything you can on domestic parental placement adoption. Some very good books are "The Open Adoption Experience" by Lois Molina and "Adopting in America: How to Adopt within One Year" by Randall Hicks. Others are "Dear Birthmother" by Kathleen Silber and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption". A good one for your family is "Adoption is a Family Affair: What Friends and Relatives Must Know" by Patricia Irwin Johnston.

Lastly, ask lots of questions. There are many here and other places who are more than happy to share their experiences.

Best of luck.

Regina

[HBV]

Regina is absolutely right. Even with some issues surrounding our own adoption, I would not discourage others from domestic adoption. It can be a wonderful thing to know your child's birthfamilies. We waited less than a year, and wound up with a healthy, happy baby that looks a lot like us.

To sum up:
Made for T.V. movies should not be confused with documentaries on adoption, but many times they are.

All parenting involves risk. Assess what you can handle with grace and go forward.

[ani26]

Thank you everyone for your response. I feel much better and I'll continue with my plans