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Adoption in Berkeley, CA

Berkeley Adoption Agencies, Lawyers and More

The adoption process can be long and tedious, but it results in a life-changing outcome.

When exploring your options, you want to research thoroughly and make sure you have the best resources by your side.

But where do you begin?

American Adoptions is a great place to start. Whether you’re thinking about adopting a child or placing a child for adoption in Berkeley, CA, we can connect you with all the services needed to complete the Berkeley adoption process from beginning to end.

Learn more about Berkeley adoptions with our agency by calling 1-800-ADOPTION or by requesting free adoption information online now. You can also continue reading this guide for information on the different types of adoption in Berkeley and the resources available.

Adoption Agencies in Berkeley, CA

For those pursuing a domestic infant adoption in Berkeley, whether as a potential adoptive parent or as an expectant parent, it’s recommended that you work with a national agency like American Adoptions.

There are pros and cons to choosing a national agency over a local, but one of the largest advantages is national agencies’ ability to provide you with all the services needed for adoptions in California, unlike most smaller local agencies. American Adoptions provides services such as hospital planning and financial support for pregnant women, advertising and help finding match opportunities for hopeful parents, 24-7 counseling services, referrals to attorneys and home study professionals, and so much more. When it comes to domestic adoption, our capabilities and care are truly unmatched.

Some prefer local agencies knowledge and expertise of the Berkeley area, face-to-face interaction, and overall experience. With offices located just a few hours away in Fresno, when you choose American Adoptions, you get all of the benefits of a large, national agency, but don’t miss out on the local and personal feel. Our nearest office is located at:

7257 N. Maple Ave.
Suite 101
Fresno, CA 93720

If you would like to explore local Berkeley adoption agencies, you may want to consider working with the following agencies:

Foster Care Adoption in Berkeley

The ultimate goal of the California foster care system is to reunite children with their biological parents. When this is not a possibility, the child becomes eligible for adoption through foster care.

These children range in age, gender and ethnicity, and some may have special needs or come from troubled backgrounds. Foster care and foster care adoption allows hopeful adoptive parents the opportunity to provide these children a new start in a safe and loving home.

If a foster care adoption in Berkeley, CA, sounds like the best opportunity to help you grow your family, the following nearby resources can help you get started:

International Adoption in Berkeley

Although American Adoptions specializes in domestic infant adoption and cannot complete international adoption, we understand the amazing opportunity it can provide hopeful adoptive parents looking to expand their family. With more laws and regulations, travel and other factors, the international adoption process is very complex and can take a considerable amount of time.

For families who hope to adopt a child from another country, it is suggested that you contact any of these international adoption agencies that serve families in California. They can offer you more information about how to complete an intercountry adoption in the Berkeley area:

Berkeley Adoption Lawyers

Whether you’re a prospective birth or adoptive parent, a Berkeley adoption lawyer is needed to complete your adoption. Your legal counsel is there to educate you about the California adoption legal processes, from consent to finalization.

American Adoptions connects our prospective birth and adoptive families with the legal counsel they’ll need for adoptions in Berkeley, CA, but not all agencies do. If the agency you choose does not help facilitate representation, you will need to find a Berkeley adoption attorney to help you through the legal requirements on your own. A few of the attorneys you may consider contacting in the Berkeley area include:

Home Study Professionals in Berkeley

Before you can adopt a child in Berkeley, you’ll first need to be approved to adopt via a home study. The adoptive home study is an evaluation of your readiness to become a parent. Approval is based on information obtained from home studies, financial and medical records, interviews with family members and more.

This is one of the first steps necessary to complete to continue pursuing adoption in Berkeley. When you have determined which type of adoption you would like to pursue, it is suggested you schedule your home study. 

Why face unnecessary delays, errors, and costs? As a licensed home study provider, American Adoptions ensures you don’t have to. We provide the most efficient home study services in California. Follow this link to begin your home study with our agency and to learn more about the services we offer.

Berkeley Hospitals for Maternity Care and Delivery

Making a hospital plan is beneficial to expectant mothers who are preparing for delivery while creating their adoption plan with American Adoptions. The hospital plan not only covers the details of which hospital you would like to deliver at but also details surrounding the delivery itself. This includes things like who you would like in the room, how much (if any) interaction you would like with the adoptive family, if you would like any alone time, the use of medication during the birth, and more.

Having a plan in place for the delivery helps eliminate any confusion or concerns that could potentially arise during your hospital stay. The following nearby hospitals in and around Berkeley can assist you with your maternity needs, so you might consider including them in your hospital plan.

Families pursuing adoption in Berkeley can expect to potentially travel to these hospitals to meet their new son or daughter:

Berkeley Adoption Finalization Courts

Before you can complete an adoption in Berkeley, a finalization hearing has to take place. During this hearing, a judge will review information gathered from the home studies and visits and ask several questions regarding how you are adapting to parenthood and the placement of your child. Once the judge approves the information, they will issue a final decree of adoption—meaning your child is legally recognized as a member of your family.

Adoption finalizations in Berkeley, CA , happen in your local district county court according to state adoption jurisdiction laws.  Contact your Alameda County Court System to learn more about how your adoption will be finalized.

Visiting Berkeley

If an adoptive family is coming in for a placement from out-of-state, they’ll need to stay in California during ICPC clearance. Birth mothers may consider arranging future meetings with adoptive families in Berkeley as well. If you are looking for family-friendly things to do, here are some in or around the Berkeley area:

Adoption is a very brave and selfless choice.

Before you make any decision, be sure to research your options and determine what is truly best for you. No matter what stage of the process you are in, adoption specialists are here to support you and answer any questions along the way.

When you feel you are ready, call 1-800-ADOPTION to learn more about adoption in Berkeley, California, with American Adoptions or to begin discussing an adoption plan today.

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.

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