A disruption is one of the most difficult challenges in the adoption process, but it does not have to be the end of your journey.
While roughly 10% to 25% of adoption matches fall through, choosing an agency that prioritizes birth parent support and financial protection provides a critical safety net for your family.
Speak with an adoption specialist to learn more about how we can protect your adoption journey.
How Often Do Adoptions Fall Through?
Statistically, approximately 1 in 4 to 1 in 10 adoption matches will disrupt at some point during the process. While these numbers can feel daunting, it is important to remember that a “fall-through” is most often a birth parent exercising their legal right to choose what is best for their child.
For hopeful parents, the frequency of these disruptions is often less important than the quality of the safety net provided by their agency.
At American Adoptions, we work to lower these risks through intensive, compassionate screening, but we also provide a Risk-Sharing Program to ensure that if a heartbreak happens, it doesn’t end your dream of becoming a parent.
Why Do Adoptions Fall Through?
Understanding why adoptions fall through is the first step in mitigating that risk. These situations are rarely the result of a single factor, but often stem from:
- Changing Circumstances: A birth parent may receive unexpected support from family or the birth father, making them feel they can now parent successfully.
- Lack of Counseling: Without 24/7 access to professional counseling, a birth parent may make a decision based on the “heat of the moment” rather than a settled plan.
- Mismatched Expectations: If the communication regarding openness or post-placement contact isn’t clearly defined, either party may feel the match isn’t right.
At American Adoptions, we combat these risks by providing exhaustive counseling to birth mothers from the moment they contact us.
By helping them process the heavy emotions of pregnancy and placement early on, we ensure that their decision to choose adoption is well-informed and stable before a match is even made.
What to Do When an Adoption Falls Through
Knowing what to do when an adoption falls through can help you navigate the emotional aftershocks of a disruption.
- Allow Yourself to Grieve: A disruption is a genuine loss. It is okay to take time away from the process to heal emotionally.
- Evaluate Your Finances: Check with your agency to see which fees are lost and which are protected.
- Lean on Your Specialist: Your adoption specialist is there to help you process the disruption and determine when you feel ready to be “active” again.
At American Adoptions, we don’t just provide logistical support; we provide the emotional framework to help you recover. Because our financial protection is robust, you can focus on your emotional health without the added stress of how you will afford to try again.
How American Adoptions Protects You From Disruption Costs
Many “low-cost” agencies appear affordable because they exclude financial protection from their fee structure.
This creates “iceberg costs”—hidden expenses that surface only when an adoption fails. In these cases, families often lose their entire investment and must save for years before they can afford to start over.
American Adoptions is different. We believe that a disruption should never be a financial catastrophe.
Our program ensures that money spent on a disrupted match doesn’t disappear. Instead of the “rollover” policy common at other agencies (where the agency keeps your money for a future match), we offer a true financial protection program that gives you the flexibility to move forward on your terms.
What Is Adoption Disruption Insurance?
Adoption disruption insurance provides a safety net. American Adoptions provides this through our Risk-Sharing Program. If an adoption disrupts, the money you have paid toward things like birth parent living expenses, medical bills, and legal expenses is refunded directly back to you.
Unlike other agencies that “roll over” your funds—effectively forcing you to stay with them or lose your money—we provide a cash-back refund. This allows you to choose how to proceed, whether that means taking a break, pursuing a different path, or staying with us for your next match.
This level of transparency is rare in the adoption world and is designed specifically to protect our families’ hard-earned savings.
Can You Adopt Again After a Disruption?
Yes, adoption after disruption is a reality for many families who are now happily raising their children. A disruption is a chapter in your story, not the ending.
With our adoption disruption insurance model, the path back to “active” status is much shorter. You won’t have to spend months or years rebuilding your savings. Most of our families who experience a disruption are able to match again quickly because they remain financially prepared and emotionally supported.
Worried About an Adoption Falling Through? Here’s How We Protect You
The fear of how often adoptions fall through shouldn’t keep you from the joy of parenthood. You deserve an agency that takes the “what if” seriously.
With American Adoptions, you are protected by the industry’s leading financial safety net.
Contact an adoption specialist today to learn how we protect your heart and your bank account. Your baby is out there, and we are here to make sure you have the resources to find them.
