The answer should always be YES! The only places licensed to provide adoption services are adoption agencies and attorneys. But just having a license to place children for adoption doesn’t mean they’re good. It simply means that they are under state oversight. Beware of unlicensed adoption facilitators, these are individuals or businesses who claim to be qualified to help you, but are actually just brokers. Not sure which one is which? Use this search tool to find more information.

You should be able to connect with licensed therapists before and after the adoption, at no cost to you. Adoption is a massive decision and you will have a grieving process and emotional effects that are lifelong. Make sure you understand the emotional toll of adoption and risk factors before you finalize your decision. Your adoption professional should connect you with options for therapy after relinquishment, and sessions should not cost you. Make sure you get a clear plan in place for post-placement therapy and support beforehand.

All domestic adoption law is determined by each state's set of laws. State laws determine the minimum waiting time between birth and signing consent papers. If a state says that you must wait 24 hours after birth to sign consent paperwork, you don’t have to sign at 24 hours. This is simply a minimum. Need more time to decide? Check out our scripts to have the right words to say.

Check out our Adoption Laws page for more information on these laws.

Check out our Decision-Making page to learn how to slow down the process so that your brain and body are ready to make a serious decision.

Just like each state has laws about the waiting period before signing consents, each state also has laws about how much time you have to change your mind after consents are signed. It's important to know that in Utah, you cannot revoke after signing consent paperwork. Check out our Adoption Laws page for more information on these laws.

The answer to this question should always be yes. When you’re looking for your own attorney, make sure they are well-versed in adoption law. Legal representation for expectant moms in adoption is free to you, paid for by the adoptive parents. This doesn’t mean that they won’t be representing your interests. Make sure there is a clause in your retainer agreement that states that the attorney represents YOU regardless of who is paying their retainer fee. Matched with someone that is unwilling to pay for you to have legal representation? Don't be afraid to rethink your choice. You absolutely deserve to have your interests represented when making one of the biggest decisions of your life.

A post-adoption contact agreement (PACA) is an agreement between birth parents and adoptive families that details the level, methods, and frequency of contact that will take place in the years following the placement. These agreements are not enforceable in every state, and many times, to be enforceable, they must be filed with the court paperwork by the adoptive family’s attorney. It’s also important to know, if you ever wish to enforce your PACA, you will need to retain an attorney and this may be costly. Find out what states enforce PACA’s.

Whether the birth father’s consent to adoption will be required depends on a few factors, including whether or not you and the birth father are married and whether or not he supported you during your pregnancy or registered with your state’s putative father registry (if applicable).

But in most states, the birth father must at least receive notice of the intended adoption and be given a chance to object and establish his parental rights to the child.

There are some important exceptions to this requirement. For example, notice to the birth father is usually not required in a domestic violence situation where giving him notice may pose a danger to you or your child. State laws on the issue of a birth father’s parental rights vary greatly, so you must speak to your attorney as early on in the adoption process as possible.

If you are a member of a tribe, the process changes slightly because of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). But it’s important to know why your process is different under ICWA.