There are many types of adoption professionals that offer a wide range of adoption services – including adoption law firms, adoption law centers, adoption facilitators and local and national adoption agencies.

An adoption law center is not the same as an adoption law firm – an adoption law center is a corporation that is owned by a licensed attorney. Unlike an adoption law firm, most adoption law centers do not actually provide legal services for an adoption. Instead, the adoption law center matches the adoptive family with a potential birth mother, then refers that family to an adoption agency or adoption lawyer to complete the legal aspects of the adoption.

For Birth Mothers

An adoption law center can help a birth mother locate an adoptive family. However, because most adoption law centers lack a Social Services Department, the birth mother might not receive the same level of counseling and support during the adoption process as she would through another adoption professional, such as an adoption agency.

Some birth mothers may believe that they are not in need of counseling, however a qualified adoption counselor can provide birth mothers a great benefit in helping them to process their emotions throughout the adoption process, help them determine what qualities they want in an adoptive family for their baby, help locate and connect with a family that meets their wants and desires for their baby, help her prepare for the emotions she will face at the hospital and provide support after the adoptive placement.

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Where Should I Start?

Creating Your Adoption Plan

Adoption Frequently Asked Questions

For Adoptive Families

An adoption law center can help locate potential birth parents and can help match an adoptive family with a birth mother, however the service by the adoption law center often ends there.

Once a family is matched with a birth mother, the adoptive family is then often referred to another adoption law firm or adoption lawyer to complete the adoptive placement. While some adoptive families are comfortable with this level of service, a family who prefers a more comprehensive level of service may wish to choose another adoption professional that will oversee all aspects of the adoption process, such as a national adoption agency.

Proper birth mother counseling and support should also be considered when deciding between an adoption law center and other adoption professionals. It is a normal for birth mothers to waver in their decision whether or not to place their child for adoption and experience many highs and lows throughout the adoption process – which birth mothers often do not experience during normal business hours.  A trained Social Services Department that is available 24-hours a day can help the birth mother process her feelings and support her in her adoption plan, while also help prepare her for the emotions she will face at the hospital and after the adoptive placement. Without adequate support, this can result in a disrupted adoption, meaning the adoptive family must begin the adoption process over again.

Also, just as birth mothers need 24-hour assistance, adoptive families often do as well. Adoption law centers often do not provide support to the adoptive family once the match with a birth mother is made.

Adoption law centers, like adoption facilitators, also are not reviewed by any objective person, government or organization. While a law center may be certified by a state bar association, the association will only review the work of the attorney who owns the law center if a complaint is made. However, the practices of licensed adoption agencies are routinely reviewed by government officials as part of their licensure.

For more information, visit:

Choosing an Adoption Professional – Adoption Law Centers

Adoption Frequently Asked Questions

Deciding on a Domestic Adoption Professional