Private Adoptions

Every year there are an estimated amount of 127,000 adoptions in the US. Private adoptions are possible in most states, but not all. Private adoptions take place, when a couple/ single parent is willing to adopt and consults an attorney to help them legalize the process. Private adoptions can be quite expensive and a lengthy process. In most states adoptive parents are allowed to pay the biological mother and help her financially throughout the delivery. After the delivery takes place, parents looking for private adoptions can adopt the baby 24 hours later.

Couples who are well off can have multiple private adoptions. For instance Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are infamous for their adoptions from third world countries, have made quite a reputation for themselves. The list includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. This list gets longer by the year. But these celebrities have an economic advantage and can afford multiple private adoptions. Some criticize these decisions accusing celebrities and claiming it as publicity stunts. Studies have shown that some mothers who are giving their child up for adoption usually aim for celebrities, because they have a perception that their child will be treated like royalty. Getting everything they want and having a life very similar to a celebrity. This is true to an extent. Children of celebrities will enjoy a quality of life that is higher than being adopted by any other normal parent. Of course a normal working couple will not be able to afford multiple private adoptions. Keep in mind that they will have to pay for the attorney, care of the biological mother, legal fees and a lot more which vary according to the situation. For instance the delivery might cost a certain amount, but is prone to change if the mother has to resort to a C-section.

The US does its best to ensure that there are no “buying” of babies. It is called a “black market adoption” if this ever takes place. Adoptive parents are allowed to take care of the financial expenses of the biological mother, but they cannot pay the mother for giving up her baby. Many states require that the adoptive parents should be approved by a social service agency.

The advantage of having private adoptions is that there is less hassle in adopting the child. Because in the case of an agency’s interference, the biological parents signs over the rights of the child to the agency and they will in turn sign the child over to the adoptive parents. With private adoptions, the adoptive family can have open adoptions between the biological parents. This creates a better bond with the two parties and when the child grows up he/she can have a better mentality. So if a couple is willing to adopt they should consider going for private adoptions.