Infant Adoption

In our 30 years of adoption experience, we have completed over 5300 adoptions. We have worked with birth parents and adoptive parents both in and out of California and have represented adoptive parents, birth mothers and birth fathers. When we know the facts of your situation, we can determine the most efficacious way to process your adoption, be it independent or designated or identified agency. In an Independent Adoption, the birth parent places the child directly with the adoptive family. The prospective parents do not need to be preapproved under this process if all parties reside in California (i.e.: they don’t need a home study complete prior to placement). In most cases, these are open adoptions where the birth parent and the adoptive family have met or have had the opportunity to review information about each other. The birth mother will meet with an adoption service provider (ASP), who is a social worker with five years of adoption experience and registered as such with the State of California. The ASP will be the birth parent’s advocate, will collect background information and may provide counseling. A few days after the child is born, the birth parent typically will meet with the ASP to sign the consent, called an Adoption Placement Agreement . In most cases, the consent will be binding in 30 days or earlier if the birth mother signs a waiver of this time period.

In a Designated Agency adoption, the prospective parents must must have a current home study showing they are preapproved by a licensed adoption agency. The birth parent may choose to place her child with a specific family or may choose to have the agency make the placement choice. Shortly after the baby is born, the birth parent will meet with the agency to sign a relinquishment of her parental rights. The relinquishment typically becomes irrevocable when it is acknowledged by the State Department of Social Services, usually 4-6 business days , or later if the birthparent signs a hold. In both types of adoptions, birth father’s rights must be addressed and there are post placement supervision visits. Adoptions are completed in court in approximately 180 days. Please contact our office for a complimentary 15 minute consultation.