Is Your Agency Legally Allowed to Help You Adopt?
Across the U.S., new state and federal laws are cracking down on unlicensed and limited-licensed adoption professionals.
If your agency isn’t licensed, or licensed in only one or two states, your adoption could be delayed, canceled or even forced to restart.
Why Laws Are Changing
For years, families have faced heartbreaking losses:
- Promised short wait times that turned into years
- Tens of thousands lost to failed or illegal adoptions
- Unlicensed entities posing as agencies
- Adoptions completed without proper legal oversight
Now, regulators are enforcing existing laws and introducing new ones, including the proposed ADOPT Act, to stop these risky practices.
Why This Matters for Families
Once the law takes effect, families working with these professionals could see their adoption coverage drop overnight, just like the chart below.
When that happens, the results could be devastating:
❌ Adoptions shut down mid-process
❌ Lost fees with little or no refund
❌ Wait times that stretch for years
Even now, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned numerous organizations to stop deceptive advertising or face closure.
Approximately 35 current adoption professionals, representing over 700 active waiting families, could be directly affected.
Who’s Most at Risk
1. Unlicensed “National” Advertisers (Facilitators/Intermediaries)
Operate without a single state license — yet advertise nationwide.
- Already banned in 33 states.
- Under the new laws, they’ll be banned everywhere.
Impact on Families:
- Lost fees and no refunds
- Failed or overturned adoptions
- Possible involvement in class-action lawsuits
2. Limited-Licensed “National” Agencies (1–2 State Licenses)
Advertise nationally but are licensed in only one or two states.
When enforcement tightens, they’ll be restricted to those states only.
Impact on Families:
- Longer wait times
- Fewer adoption opportunities
- Higher risk of agency shutdowns
3. Multi-State Licensed Agencies (Fully Compliant)
Already licensed across many states and able to advertise and complete adoptions legally nationwide.
Impact on Families:
- Shorter wait times
- More birth mother connections
- Greater stability and protection
How to Protect Your Adoption
Before you commit, ask every agency:
✅ Which states are you licensed in?
✅ Where do you advertise?
✅ What percentage of placements happen in licensed states?
✅ What is your average wait time and total cost?
✅ Have you received any FTC warnings?
If they hesitate or can’t answer clearly, really consider the risk your adoption faces.
The Safer Path: Work with Agencies Licensed in Numerous States
State laws already limit advertising to licensed agencies and attorneys, and a proposed federal law—the ADOPT Act—will make that standard nationwide.
American Adoptions is already fully compliant.
We are licensed in more states than any other agency, giving families the broadest legal reach and long-term stability as new laws take effect.
When others must shut down or limit their work, our families continue to move forward safely and without disruption.
Stay Protected for the Road Ahead
Laws are changing fast. Choose an agency that is already compliant today and built for tomorrow.
Your adoption should never depend on legal uncertainty.
Read more about how changing laws affect families
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
