So, you’re considering adoption in Missoula, MT. Whether you’re an expectant mother facing an unplanned pregnancy or hopeful parents wanting to adopt a baby, this is a big decision. Adoption is life-changing. It is beautiful, but also very challenging. And the process is complicated.

It’s okay if it feels like there are a hundred questions swirling around your mind. That’s normal for anyone considering adoption in Missoula. The adoption process, and everything that comes with it, can be difficult to comprehend. That’s why we’ve created this guide to adoption in Missoula.

Because of how big this decision is, it’s important to do all the research you can before making your choice. Adoption could be the best thing for your baby, or for your family, but it’ll be hard to know until you have a better grasp on what it takes to complete an adoption in Missoula.

Even after you finish reading, you’ll have more questions. You can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to speak with an adoption specialist about your Missoula adoption.

Adoption Agencies in Missoula

The first step in the adoption process is finding the right agency to work with. It’s vitally important to choose a good agency that you can trust to do what’s best for you at every step. Because of how complicated this process can be, you don’t want to go through it alone.

As a full-service, fully-licensed national adoption agency, American Adoptions can work with you for adoption in Missoula. Our large staff of dedicated adoption specialists has completed thousands of successful adoptions. We provide services like:

• 24/7 counseling and informational services for anyone considering adoption in Missoula

• Screening adoptive parents and prospective birth mothers

• Helping birth mothers decide what they are looking for in an adoptive family

• Helping adoptive families find an adoption opportunity through media profiles and videos to share with birth mothers

• Facilitating care and expenses to the extent Montana allows for prospective birth mothers

• Connecting adoptive families with home study services, legal representation and more in Missoula

• Providing post-placement support

• Protecting adoptive families’ financial investment in the process

• And more

There are other distinct advantages to working with a national adoption agency as well. Most people experience a lower average wait time during adoption, and there is greater financial security in the process. However, you also have the option of choosing a smaller, local adoption agency to work with for you adoption in Missoula. You could consider agencies like:

• Lutheran Social Services of Montana

• Catholic Social Services of Montana

When considering an agency to work with, make sure to ask questions like:

• How many adoptions do you complete each year?

• Which steps of the adoption process can you provide service for?

• How quickly can your team respond to my needs?

• Are you fully licensed?

The adoption agency you work with can make or break the experience you have with your Missoula adoption. Take your time doing research and make the best choice for you.

Adoption Attorneys in Missoula, MT

If you do work with American Adoptions, you’ll be referred to a trusted attorney from our national network to work with during your Missoula adoption. With all of the legal procedures and regulations surrounding adoption, a good attorney can help guide you through the process. If you would like, you can also choose your own adoption attorney to work with. Some local options to consider are:

• Netzer Law Office, P.C.

• Calton Hamman & Wolff, P.C.

• The Law Office of Christopher J. Gillette, P.C.

• Anna Williams Law, PLLC

Just like choosing an agency, this decision can significantly impact your adoption in Missoula. Ask a lot of questions about an attorney’s past record with adoption, fees and other relevant factors.

Types of Adoption in Missoula, MT

If you are hopeful parents considering adoption in Missoula, you have three options to choose from.

Domestic infant adoption is one of the most common types of adoption in the U.S. During this process, you can work with American Adoptions to create a family profile that will be shown to potential birth mothers. When a birth mother chooses your profile, you’ll be called and presented with the adoption opportunity. Choosing domestic infant adoption in Missoula can be an amazing way to grow your family, and American Adoptions would love to work with you in the process.

Foster care adoption is another way you could consider growing your family through adoption in Missoula. There are currently more than 3,000 children in the Montana foster care system, and the state is in desperate need of more qualified foster parents. While foster care adoption in Missoula comes with unique challenges — like the possibility of a child being suddenly removed from your care — it can be a good way for a family to adopt. One of the primary benefits of foster care adoption in Missoula is the lower cost associated with the process. For more information, you can contact your local Child and Family Services department.

International adoption in Missoula is the third option you have. International adoption in Montana is rare; the state only completed 14 international adoptions in 2017. This aligns with an overall trend in the U.S. of decreasing international adoptions. Still, thousands of people do adopt internationally ever year, and it could the right way to for you to adopt in Missoula. If you’re interested in international adoption, you may want to consider agencies like:

• Bethany Christian Services

• Holt International

• Children’s House International

Home Study Services for Adoption in Missoula

You’ll need an adoption home study regardless of which type of adoption you choose. The home study is a review of the potential adoptive family’s lifestyle, living situation and adoption readiness. This review is performed by a licensed social worker who will review pertinent documents, visit the home and conduct interviews with family members.

If you work with American Adoptions during your adoption in Missoula, we’ll refer you to a trusted home study provider in your area. More than that, an adoption specialist will guide you through the home study process to make it as simple as possible. If you would like to research home study providers on your own, you can visit 1800HomeStudy.com.

Maternity Hospitals in Missoula, MT

As an expectant mother, you are in charge of the hospital plan. You’ll work together with an adoption specialist to create a plan at the beginning of your Missoula adoption process, and that includes choosing which hospital you’d like to give birth at. In Missoula, you could choose Community Medical Center or Providence St. Patrick Hospital.

Adoption Finalization in Missoula

There is one more important step left in the adoption process after a baby is placed with a family at the hospital: adoption finalization. To complete your adoption in Missoula, you will need to go before a court and receive a final decree of adoption from a judge. This usually occurs six months after placement, and you will most likely need to go to a Missoula County court.

Begin Your Missoula Adoption Today

Choosing adoption for your baby or for your family can be the best decision you’ll ever make. Adoption in Missoula isn’t right for everyone, but it could be right for you. If you have more questions about working with American Adoptions, or you want to begin your Missoula adoption today, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION.

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.