They are different ways to adopt a child which all show advantages and disadvantages. Here is an overview of a few different types of adoptions.
Agency adoptions can be executed by state agencies or private agencies. Private agencies are often charities or social services organizations. In the majority of the cases, the biological parents that have or are expecting the child and want to give it up for adoption bring the child to the agency. One of the positive aspects about going through an agency for the adoption process is that the adoptive parents and biological parents can delegate the endless paper work to those agencies but would obviously have to spend more money on the adoption.
Parents can also go for an independent adoption meaning that no agency will be involved. Sometimes the adoptive parents will directly make an arrangement with the birth parents or use an intermediary such as a lawyer, a doctor or a clergy person. Usually the adoptive parents will hire an attorney to take care of all the paperwork. Most states allow independent adoptions but do regulate them carefully.
It is sometimes reassuring for adoptive parents to get to know the biological parents and this process is usually faster than when the agency is involved. The issue with independent adoptions is that they can be highly limited by state laws, which could complicate the procedure. For example, some states limit the amount of money than can be offered to the birth parents for prenatal care and medical expenses. Also, some states are concerned that parents will not receive the adequate amount of counseling in order to make the best final decision. Therefore, some states extended the period of time during which the birth parents are allowed to change their mind about adoption.
An independent adoption can also lead to an open adoption meaning that biological parents and adoptive parents will work an arrangement that satisfies everyone in terms of keeping contact with the child. The arrangement can go from a letter every Christmas to regular visits. Even though the visitation agreements are usually part of the legal proceedings of adoption, the court cannot enforce them.
The identified adoption is a hybrid process between the independent and the agency adoption. In this process the biological parents and the adoptive parents find each other without going through an agency but then ask an agency to take over the adoption process. It permits the adoptive parents to avoid the agencies waiting lists but to still benefit from the agency counseling and knowledge of the adoption proceedings. Some states that don’t recognize the independent adoption do recognize the identified adoption.
The international adoption applies when the adoptive parents desire to adopt a child who is the citizen of a foreign country. Inter-country adoption is governed by the Adoption Convention of The Hague and applies to adoption between the United-States and any other convention member country. The role of the Treaty is primary to protect children, birth parents and adoptive family from unethical adoptions practices. It also guarantees protection against child abduction and hidden fees.
In addition to satisfying the requirement for adoption in each country, the adoptive parents have to obtain a visa for the child from the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To learn more go to http://www.uscis.gov/adoption.
The stepparent adoption happens when the new spouse adopts a child that the parent had with a previous partner. This process is most of the time quite simple, especially if the other parent gives it consent. However if the other parent cannot be found or refuses to consent to the adoption by the stepparent, there will be more paperwork and the adoptive parents might need an attorney.