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What to Do When an Adoption Falls Through

Life after Adoption Disruption

"Whenever we saw [our daughter] for the first time, I can remember just looking at her and saying, 'Mark, I know why that adoption failed a few months ago because that wasn't our baby, this is our baby,'" — Krystal, an adoptive mother

When you choose adoption, you want to build your family.  But there is also the chance that an adoption opportunity won’t work out.

We’re here to tell you that life after adoption disruption doesn’t have to be the end of your adoption journey. If you wish to pursue another adoption opportunity with us, then this guide will help you prepare for your next adoption after disruption.

Contact us online to get more free information now and learn more about how we can get you ready for adoption after disruption.

Can You Adopt Again after a Disruption?

Yes, absolutely.

When you work with American Adoptions, you will be protected by our Risk-Sharing Program, which is our adoption disruption insurance that guarantees financial protection for adoptive families.

Since its inception, this adoption disruption insurance has saved families more than $4.6 million since 2009 by refunding all lost fees, such as:

  • Living expenses

  • Prenatal care expenses

  • Processing costs

When you work with other adoption professionals and they offer a refund, it is typically a “rollover” policy. This policy means the agency will keep your money but put it toward another adoption opportunity.

But, rollover policies take away your financial freedom and flexibility. An adoption disruption is emotionally and financially draining. You may want time to pause and cope with the disruption or work with a different agency.

Rollover policies don’t allow you that independence without losing all the money you’ve already put toward the disrupted adoption.

Other adoption professionals do not offer any type of refund. If you work with a professional that doesn’t provide financial protection, then a disruption could drain your adoption budget and prevent you from starting your family.

American Adoptions puts families first, which is why we believe you deserve 100% of your money back. We don’t use the rollover policy. Instead, we return funds directly to you, so you can have the life after adoption disruption that you want.

Adoption after Disruption: Starting Again

Pursuing another adoption after disruption isn’t easy. It’s a difficult obstacle to overcome, but on the other side is your exciting new life as a parent.

After their first adoption journey was unsuccessful, adoptive parents Marc and Krystal decided to try again six months later. This time around, they were blessed with a baby girl.

“I look at [our boys] now with their sister, and it is so worth it,” Marc said. “It all happens for a reason. Despite how weak we were, we came out stronger as a couple. We came out stronger as a family.”

Adoption after disruption doesn’t require any extra steps for you to get back into the process. Our specialists are always proactive about paperwork, so we will let you know if you have home studies expiring or anything else that needs updating.

Once you feel emotionally ready to begin again, your adoption specialist will reactivate your profile, which new prospective birth parents can view right away. It may be another few weeks or months before a prospective birth parent selects your profile, but, along the way, you will have the dedicated support of our agency.

“They totally go above and beyond, and they’re happy with you, they hurt with you, they’re praying with you,” Krystal said. “You can’t ask for anything else.”

We carefully pre-screen prospective birth parents to gauge their commitment level before we connect them with you. Our birth parent specialists are available 24/7 to address expectant parents’ concerns in moments of doubt.

But, ultimately, it is the prospective birth parent’s choice to discontinue the process, and it can happen at a moment’s notice.

***

Our adoption specialists will be there for you during an adoption disruption and when you’re ready to begin again.

If you’re ready to go active again and pursue adoption after disruption, or if you’re wondering what to do when an adoption falls through with another professional, then you can get more free information online now or when you call 1-800-ADOPTION.

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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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to retain our own attorney?

No, American Adoptions has established relationships with some of the best adoption attorneys in the nation. Because adoption laws vary from state to state and between counties, it is important to utilize the services of an adoption attorney who specializes in the state where the adoption will finalize, which is unknown until you match with an expectant mother. You have the right to retain your own attorney, but doing so may be an additional, unnecessary expense.

Can we choose the gender of our baby?

American Adoptions does not allow gender specificity in adoption. Any family who wishes to be gender-specific in their adoption should contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION and ask about the possibility of an exception waiver before taking any other steps toward adoption with our agency. Any families who do receive an exception to be gender-specific may also incur an additional fee, which helps cover the additional advertising costs of such a request.

Please note that gender specificity will likely increase your wait time significantly.

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