If you're considering adoption in South Carolina, one of your biggest questions is probably: What happens to my baby after I place them for adoption? Will they be safe? Will they be loved? Will they end up in foster care?

These are important questions, and you deserve honest, clear answers.

The truth is this: when you choose adoption through American Adoptions, your baby goes to an adoptive family who has been carefully screened, background-checked, and prepared to provide a safe, loving home. Your baby will never enter the foster care system, and you'll have the option to stay in touch through open adoption if that's what you want.

Get free information about adoption and speak with a specialist who can answer all your questions about what happens after placement.

Below, we'll walk you through exactly what happens to your baby after adoption in South Carolina—from the moment you sign consent to finalization and beyond.

What Happens to My Baby after Adoption in South Carolina?

The moment you sign your consent to adoption, your baby's adoptive family receives temporary custody. This means they take your baby home from the hospital and become responsible for all of their care, including medical needs, daily routines, and everything else.

Here's what happens step by step:

At the Hospital: If you're placing your baby for adoption right after birth, you'll have time to spend with your baby in the hospital if you want to. When you're ready, you'll sign your consent paperwork. Once consent is signed, the adoptive family can take your baby home.

Legal Custody Transfer: According to South Carolina Code Section 63-9-510, once the adoptive family receives your baby and a petition for adoption has been filed, they have temporary custody and are responsible for your baby's care, maintenance, and support.

Post-Placement Period: For approximately 90 days after placement, the adoptive family will complete required post-placement visits with a licensed home study provider. These visits ensure your baby is thriving and that the adoption is progressing as it should.

Finalization: After the post-placement period, the adoptive family will go to family court for a finalization hearing. Once the judge signs the final decree of adoption, your baby legally becomes the child of the adoptive family with all the same rights as a biological child.

Throughout this entire process, your baby is safe, cared for, and loved by their adoptive family. And if you choose open adoption, you can stay connected and watch them grow.

Who Takes Care of My Baby After Adoption Consent?

This is one of the most important questions birth mothers ask, and the answer is simple: Your baby goes directly to their adoptive family. They do not go into foster care.

When you work with American Adoptions, here's what happens:

Pre-Approved Families Only: Every adoptive family who works with American Adoptions has already completed a home study, passed background checks, and been approved to adopt. By the time you sign consent, your baby's adoptive family is ready and waiting.

Immediate Placement: Once you sign consent, the adoptive family takes your baby home from the hospital or from wherever the placement occurs. There's no waiting period, no temporary placement, and no foster care involvement.

Full Legal Responsibility: The adoptive family is responsible for all of your baby's needs from the moment they receive custody. This includes feeding, clothing, medical care, and everything else your baby needs to thrive.

Ongoing Monitoring: During the 90-day post-placement period before finalization, a licensed professional will visit the adoptive family's home to make sure your baby is doing well and the adoption is progressing smoothly.

Many birth mothers worry their baby will end up "in the system" or bouncing between foster homes. That's not how private adoption works. When you choose adoption through American Adoptions, your baby goes directly to the loving family you selected—and stays there.

You can browse waiting families right now to see the parents who are hoping to adopt and provide a safe, stable home for your baby.

How Adoptive Families Are Screened and Approved Before Adoption

Before any family can adopt through American Adoptions, they go through an extensive screening and approval process. This ensures that your baby goes to a safe, stable, loving home with parents who are prepared for the lifelong commitment of parenthood.

Here's what every adoptive family must complete:

Home Study: Every adoptive family must complete a comprehensive adoption home study. This includes interviews with every member of the household, a home inspection to ensure the home is safe, and a review of the family's financial stability, health, and background.

Background Checks: All prospective adoptive parents must pass criminal background checks, child abuse registry checks, and any other screenings required by South Carolina law.

References: Adoptive families must provide personal and professional references who can speak to their character, stability, and readiness to parent.

Financial Review: Adoptive families must demonstrate that they have the financial resources to provide for a child, including housing, food, healthcare, education, and other needs.

Medical Evaluations: Adoptive parents must provide documentation that they are in good health and capable of caring for a child.

Adoption Education: Prospective adoptive parents complete training on topics like attachment, trauma, open adoption, and parenting an adopted child.

No family can adopt through American Adoptions without completing all of these requirements. By the time you're choosing an adoptive family, you can feel confident knowing they've been thoroughly vetted and approved.

Adoption Finalization and Parental Rights in South Carolina

After you sign consent and your baby is placed with their adoptive family, the adoption still needs to be legally finalized. Here's how that process works in South Carolina:

Temporary Custody: For approximately 90 days after placement, the adoptive family has temporary custody of your baby. During this time, they're responsible for all of your baby's care.

Post-Placement Visits: A licensed home study provider will visit the adoptive family's home several times during the 90-day period to make sure your baby is thriving and the adoption is progressing as expected.

Finalization Hearing: After the post-placement period is complete, the adoptive family will attend a finalization hearing in family court. According to South Carolina law, the judge will review the adoption to ensure all legal requirements have been met and that the adoption is in your child's best interests.

Final Decree: Once the judge signs the final decree of adoption, the adoption is permanent and irrevocable. Your baby becomes the legal child of the adoptive family with all the same rights as a biological child.

New Birth Certificate: After finalization, the adoptive family can apply for an amended birth certificate that lists them as your child's legal parents.

The timeline from placement to finalization is typically about six months, though this can vary depending on court schedules and other factors.

Once the final decree is signed, your child's legal status is permanent. The adoptive family has all parental rights and responsibilities, and you no longer have legal parental rights. However, if you've chosen open adoption, you can still maintain a relationship with your child and their family.

Want to Stay in Touch? How Open Adoption Works

Many birth mothers choose adoption because they want to give their baby a better life—but that doesn't mean you have to say goodbye forever. Through open adoption, you can stay connected with your child and their adoptive family for years to come.

Here's how open adoption works:

You Choose the Level of Contact: Open adoption looks different for every family. Some birth mothers want frequent visits, phone calls, and regular updates. Others prefer less frequent contact, like annual letters and photos. You get to decide what feels right for you.

American Adoptions Can Help: When you work with American Adoptions, we'll help you find an adoptive family who shares your preferences for post-adoption contact. We can also help facilitate communication and mediate if any issues come up.

Contact Can Include: Phone calls, text messages, emails, video calls, letters, photos, and in-person visits. The type and frequency of contact is always up to you and the adoptive family.

Open Adoption Isn't Co-Parenting: It's important to understand that open adoption doesn't mean you're co-parenting. The adoptive parents make all parenting decisions. Open adoption simply means you maintain a relationship and stay connected.

South Carolina Law: Open adoption agreements aren't legally enforceable in South Carolina, which means they're based on trust and mutual commitment rather than legal obligation. That's why American Adoptions works hard to match you with a family who shares your contact preferences and is committed to honoring their promises.

More than 90% of birth mothers who work with American Adoptions choose some level of openness in their adoption. If staying connected with your baby is important to you, open adoption makes that possible.

You can learn more about your birth mother adoption rights and how open adoption works.

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

Placing your baby for adoption doesn't mean you're on your own. American Adoptions provides ongoing support to help you navigate life after adoption and find healing and peace.

Here's what's available:

Post-Adoption Counseling: You'll continue to have access to free counseling after placement. Our counselors can help you process your emotions, cope with grief and loss, and find healthy ways to move forward.

Financial Assistance: Based on South Carolina law, American Adoptions can help with living expenses like rent, utilities, and groceries for up to six weeks after placement. This gives you time to recover physically and emotionally without worrying about how you'll pay your bills.

Mediation Services: If you're struggling to maintain contact with your child's adoptive family or if communication breaks down, American Adoptions can help mediate and facilitate healthy communication.

Birth Parent Support: You'll have access to resources, support groups, and connections with other birth parents who understand what you're going through.

Lifelong Connection: Your relationship with American Adoptions doesn't end at placement. You can reach out anytime you need support, guidance, or just someone to talk to who understands adoption.

Choosing adoption is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make, and life after placement can be difficult. But you don't have to navigate it alone. American Adoptions is here for you every step of the way.

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

From your first call to years after placement, American Adoptions provides comprehensive support to birth mothers in South Carolina.

Before Placement:

• Free, confidential counseling to help you explore your options
• Help choosing the perfect adoptive family for your baby
• Financial assistance with pregnancy-related expenses
• 24/7 support from your adoption specialist
• Hospital support and guidance through the consent process

During Placement:

• Coordination of hospital plans and discharge
• Legal support to ensure all paperwork is completed correctly
• Continued counseling and emotional support
• Help maintaining contact with your child's adoptive family

After Placement:

• Ongoing counseling to help you process your emotions
• Financial assistance for up to six weeks after placement
• Mediation services if communication issues arise
• Lifelong connection and support whenever you need it

When you work with American Adoptions, you're never alone. We're here to support you through every stage of your adoption journey and beyond.

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

If you're considering adoption in South Carolina and want to know more about what happens to your baby after placement, the best thing you can do is talk to someone who can help.

Call American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION anytime, day or night. You'll speak with a compassionate specialist who will answer your questions, explain the process, and help you understand your options.

You can also get free information online about adoption, your rights, and what to expect. There's no pressure, no judgment, and no obligation.

Your baby deserves a safe, loving home—and you deserve support, clarity, and peace of mind. Let American Adoptions help you create the best possible future for both of you.

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