American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency
Adoption Professionals
There are many types of adoption professionals that offer a wide range of adoption services. Some adoption professionals are better regulated than others; some offer adoption services from beginning to end, while some are best suited for legal work or to facilitate a match between an adoptive family and a pregnant woman. It is important for adoptive families and birth mothers to learn about the differences between professionals so that their expectations and needs are met, financially and emotionally. American Adoptions is one of the largest domestic and national adoption agencies in the country.
National Adoption Agency
| 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.A national adoption agency is an adoption agency that services birth parents and adoptive families throughout the U.S. and in some cases, abroad. American Adoptions is one of the nation's largest national adoption agencies and is licensed in several states. |
Adoption Law Centers
| 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. |
Adoption Law Firms
| An adoption law firm can effectively handle the legal implications of an adoption, but they do not offer many of the adoption services that are provided by other adoption professionals, namely national adoption agencies. |
Adoption Facilitators
| An adoption facilitator matches prospective adoptive families with birth mothers, but does not provide any other adoption services, such as legal work or support/counseling for either the adoptive family or the birth parents. Adoption facilitators are often small organizations with one or two staff members. Unlike adoption agencies, adoption facilitators are not licensed or regulated by the government. |
Local Adoption Agency
| 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.A local adoption agency is an adoption agency that services birth parents and adoptive families in one specific town or small geographic area. |
Domestic Adoption Agency
| A domestic adoption agency is an adoption agency that provides adoption services in the U.S. American Adoptions is one of the nation's largest domestic adoption agencies and is licensed in several states. |
- Adoption Home Study Process
Learn what a home study is and why you need one to adopt a child.
- Home Study Questions and Answers
While adoption home studies vary slightly from agency to agency and state to state, there are several key elements that are almost always included in every home study.
- Home Studies: State by State
Find a qualified professional in your state to complete your home study.
- What is the total cost for the entire adoption?
There are several factors that determine the total cost for an adoption, including the program you choose. Variables such as medical bills, birth mother expenses and legal fees vary for each adoption. We strive to maintain affordable adoptions without cutting corners. Please see the Our Domestic Adoption Programs section for further details.
- Can we choose the gender of our baby?
Have your heart set on a bouncing baby boy or a new little princess? American Adoptions now offers a gender-specific option for families hoping for a specific gender. With this option families would pay an additional Gender-Specific Fee to help our agency locate and work with birth mothers meeting this additional criteria. Please note that gender specificity may increase wait time. This fee is in addition to all other program fees and is not considered part of your adoption budget. Please contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION for minimum budget details.
- Do we need to retain our own attorney?
No - American Adoptions has established relationships with some of the best adoption attorneys in the nation. It is important to note that adoption laws vary state-to-state and often even county-to-county. As such, it is important to utilize the services of an attorney that specializes in adoption in the state the adoption will finalize in, which we will not know until you are matched with an expectant mother. Retaining your own attorney at this time is not necessary and may be an additional expense to you that is not needed.
- Adoption Newsletter
Did you know that American Adoptions offers a free bi-weekly e-newsletter? Sign up today to keep up-to-date on the latest in adoption news and information.
- Famous Adoptions
Learn which famous Hollywood actors, sports stars, politicians and other icons have been touched by adoption.
- Adoption Glossary
Do adoption terms and phrases leave you feeling confused? Learn the meaning to key adoption words and phrases with our comprehensive adoption glossary.
