The following are actual questions that have been asked by our clients. If you have a question of a more specific nature, please feel free to contact us so we can answer your question personally.

Why does one need a homestudy in order to adopt a child?

Before an agency places a child, it needs to assess whether you have the necessary qualities; (mental, physical, social and spiritual) to parent a child, whether you have a stable relationship or family, whether you are financially secure to take on a child in your home, and provide the loving care a child needs.

How costly is an adoption?

It depends on the agency you adopt from and whether it is an international or domestic adoption.

What foreign countries do most people adopt from?

In our experience it has been Russia, China and Korea.

What is the difference between a closed adoption and an open adoption?

A closed adoption is one in which the birth mother does not have a say as to whom her child will be placed with, or knows the adoptive parents of her child. Non-identifying information about the child or adoptive parents may be given to her through the agency.

A semi-open adoption is one in which the birth mother selects a couple from non-identifying profiles and then meets the couple on a first name basis. All on-going information between the birthparent and adoptive parent is channelled through the placing agency.

An open adoption is one in which the birthparent and adoptive parents are in direct contact with each other before and after placement.

What are the chances that a birth mother may change her mind about placing her child for adoption?

If a child is placed in an adoptive home, before the birth mother has surrendered her rights, she may ask for the return of her child. The adoptive parents would be informed of this legal risk beforehand and would know the risk of this happening. It is rare, however, that it does occur if the birth mother has been properly counseled before the placement.

Once a birth mother has surrendered her rights in court, she has three days or more to change her mind about the surrender. The time lapse depends on each state's regulations. Once this time has lapsed, and the birth mother has not rescinded her rights, the surrender is final (assuming the birthfather's rights were terminated previously in the adoption process).