After you place your baby for adoption in Nevada, they go directly home with the adoptive family you chose—not into foster care or a state system. From the moment you sign consent, your baby is cared for by parents who have been thoroughly screened, approved, and prepared to provide a loving, stable home.

Below, we'll walk you through exactly what happens after you make an adoption plan: who takes care of your baby, how families are vetted, what the legal process looks like, and how you can stay connected if you choose. Understanding these steps can bring peace of mind during one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make.

What Happens to My Baby After Adoption in Nevada?

The moment after you place your baby for adoption can feel overwhelming. Here's what actually happens:

At the Hospital: When you're ready to be discharged, the adoptive family you selected takes your baby home directly from the hospital. There's no waiting period, no temporary placement, no uncertainty about where your baby will sleep that night.

You decide how much involvement you want during this transition:

• Some birth parents prefer to hand the baby directly to the adoptive parents in an emotional goodbye
• Others prefer hospital staff to facilitate the transfer while they say goodbye privately
• You can spend time with the baby before placement, or keep your distance—whatever feels right

Legal Steps: In Nevada, you'll sign relinquishment paperwork 72 hours after birth or upon hospital discharge. Once signed, the adoptive parents have legal custody while the adoption moves toward finalization.

First Days and Weeks: The adoptive family brings your baby home and begins bonding immediately. They're responsible for all medical appointments, feeding schedules, diaper changes, and everything else newborns need. If you chose an open or semi-open adoption, you may start receiving photos and updates right away.

Your baby doesn't go into the foster care system. They don't live with strangers. They go home with the family you picked—the family who's been waiting months or years for this moment. And if you choose open adoption, you don't have to wonder about what happens next, you can get updates directly from your child's family.

Who Takes Care of My Baby After Adoption Consent?

One of the biggest fears birth parents have is: "What if my baby ends up in foster care?"

Let us be clear: With American Adoptions, your baby will never go into foster care.

Here's why:

When you work with a licensed adoption agency like American Adoptions, the adoptive family is already chosen, screened, and ready before you give birth. Once you sign consent, they immediately become your baby's legal guardians.

What This Means:

• Your baby goes home with a family who's been preparing for months
• The adoptive parents have a fully set-up nursery, supplies, and a support system
• They've completed parenting classes and are ready from day one
• There's no waiting, no temporary placements, no shuffling between homes

If you were to place your baby through the state foster system instead of private adoption, the process would be completely different. But that's not what happens when you choose adoption through an agency.

Your baby goes to a family who chose them before they were even born.

How Adoptive Families Are Screened and Approved Before Adoption

Before any family can adopt through American Adoptions, they go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the country.

Here's what every adoptive family must complete:

1. Home Study

• Background checks: Criminal history, child abuse registry, FBI fingerprinting
• Financial review: Proof they can afford to raise a child
• Medical exams: Confirmation they're physically and mentally healthy
• Home safety inspection: Ensuring the home meets safety standards
• Personal references: Letters from friends, family, employers

2. In-Depth Interviews

• Social workers conduct multiple interviews about parenting philosophy, family dynamics, support systems, and motivation for adopting

3. Training and Education

• Adoptive parents complete courses on bonding with adopted children, trauma-informed parenting, and open adoption

4. Psychological Evaluation

• Some states require mental health assessments to ensure emotional readiness

5. Ongoing Support Requirements

• Families must commit to post-placement visits and be willing to participate in open adoption if requested

Only families who pass every single step are approved to adopt. If a family doesn't meet these standards, they don't get approved—period.

This means your baby isn't going to just anyone. They're going to people who have proven they're ready, capable, and committed.

See waiting family profiles.

Adoption Finalization and Parental Rights in Nevada

After you sign consent, the adoption enters a legal process that typically takes 3-6 months to finalize.

Here's the timeline:

Immediately After Consent:

• Adoptive parents receive legal custody
• They can make all decisions about the baby's care, medical treatment, etc.
• Your parental rights are terminated

Finalization Hearing (3-6 Months Later):

• The adoption is finalized in Nevada family court
• A judge reviews the case to ensure everything was done legally and ethically
• The adoptive parents' names are added to the birth certificate
• The adoption becomes permanent and irrevocable

What This Means for Your Baby: Once finalized, your child legally belongs to their adoptive family. They have the same inheritance rights, legal protections, and family status as if they were born into that family.

For you, this means the adoption is permanent. You won't be contacted for child support, medical decisions, or legal obligations. You're free to move forward with your life while maintaining whatever level of contact you agreed to.

Learn about Nevada adoption laws.

Want to Stay in Touch? How Open Adoption Works

Many birth parents worry that placing their baby for adoption means never seeing them again.

That doesn't have to be true.

Open adoption allows you to maintain contact with your child and their adoptive family after placement. The level of openness is up to you and can include:

Communication Options:

• Photos and letters exchanged through the agency
• Text messages or emails directly with the adoptive family
• Video calls to see your child growing up
• In-person visits (annual, biannual, or more frequent)

How We Help You Find the Right Match: When you browse adoptive family profiles, you can filter by their openness preferences. If staying connected is important to you, we'll help you find a family who shares that vision.

Some birth parents want regular updates and visits. Others prefer minimal contact or closed adoption. There's no right or wrong choice—only what feels best for you and your situation.

American Adoptions can also help mediate post-adoption contact if challenges arise, helping ensure agreements are honored and relationships stay healthy.

Learn more about open adoption.

Life After Adoption: What Support Is Available for Birth Parents?

Placing your baby for adoption is just the beginning of your journey. Here's how American Adoptions continues to support you:

Post-Adoption Counseling:

• Free counseling available
• Grief support, guilt processing, and help navigating complex emotions
• Support groups connecting you with other birth parents

Financial Assistance:

• In Nevada, birth mother financial assistance can support you throughout the process  of adoption
• This helps cover rent, utilities, groceries, and other essentials while you recover emotionally and physically

Contact Mediation:

• If you're in an open adoption and communication becomes difficult, we can step in to mediate
• We ensure both parties honor their agreements and maintain healthy boundaries

Lifelong Connection:

• You're not just a "client" who we forget after placement
• Our door is always open if you need to talk, have questions, or need support years down the road

Adoption doesn't end when you leave the hospital. For us, it's a lifelong commitment to your wellbeing.

How American Adoptions Supports You Before, During, and After Adoption

Choosing American Adoptions means choosing a partner who will be with you every step of the way.

You're not just choosing an adoption agency. You're choosing a support system that will walk beside you through one of life's hardest moments—and beyond.

Ready to Learn More About Adoption? Connect with American Adoptions Today

If you're considering adoption and want to know more about what happens next, we're here to answer every question.

You don't have to make any decisions today. You're just starting a conversation with someone who understands, someone who won't judge, and someone who can help you see all your options clearly.

Your baby's future—and yours—matters to us. Let's talk about what comes next.

We're ready when you are.

Disclaimer
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