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Private Adoption
A private adoption is one where the clients learn about a child that is to be given up for adoption by a parent or parents. It is more difficult and costly than the other two types of adoptions. It requires very careful attention to detail and in terminating the rights of the natural mother and natural father.
In private adoptions the attorney is usually made aware of the situation right after the family learns of a parent or parents who are willing to give up a child for adoption. We often coordinate with the natural parents.
There are now statutes that require more and earlier preparation in a private adoption to place a child in the home of the prospective adoptive parents. Statutes now require that before a child is place in a proposed adoptive home, there must be written approval of a licensed child placing agency or the county Office of Family and Children Services (OFCS). Further, these statutes require that, as part of that approval, the agency conduct criminal history checks on the proposed adoptive parents and any other person who is currently residing in the proposed adoptive home.
This requires more and earlier coordination. As of this date, it is not totally clear how the agencies will be handling this.
Some agencies will require a full home study, completing a course in adoption and criminal history checks while others might give the statutory-required approval of placement with less than a full home study, but with the two statutorally-
required criminal history checks for any adults in the home.
Next: Private Adoption Matters (continued)
Previous: Agency Adoption
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