What are Different Types of Adoption Options Available?

God knew that it doesn’t matter how your children get to your family. It just matters that they get there. – Kira Mortenson

Becoming a parent is one of the world’s greatest joys. While most parents enjoy the happiness of parenthood by going through pregnancy and giving birth, adopting a baby is an equally important way to become a parent. The bond you share with your little one is pure and beautiful, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a biological parent or adoptive parent.

If you plan to adopt a child, you must be curious how things work. The first step is to know about different types of choices available. Let us have a look.

Adoption through agency

It includes adopting through a public, private and Christian adoption agency. They are usually regulated by the state laws and possess a license to help the children settle with adoptive families. In case of public adoption agencies, children are guardians of the state. These children include ones who have lost their parents, became orphans, have been abused or abandoned by their birth parents or family.

Private adoption agencies usually include a charitable organization, social service organization and Christian adoption agencies that work for settling the children with adoptive parents. The children in care of private adoption agencies are the ones who have been given up for adoption by their parents. Sometimes, expectant mothers also approach such organizations to register their unborn babies for adoption.

Adoption through independent means

You can directly adopt a baby by getting in touch with the biological parents. In an independent adoption, you connect with the birth parents through doctors, lawyers or a religious member.

Though it sounds easier and faster way to adopt a child, the process usually involves multiple legal angles which may need you to hire a lawyer. An attorney helps you go through the legal documentation and paperwork.

However, an independent adoption is not legal in every country and some cases, the state may have a set of rules for adoptive parents to follow. Make sure that you first check the requirements and laws of the particular state before you go ahead the process.

Open adoption

Open adoption is similar to adoption through independent means. However, in this process, you can connect the biological parents with either private or government agencies. In addition, you can stay in touch with the families through pictures, letters and in some cases even phone calls. Sometimes, biological parents are allowed to meet the child. Since it is an open adoption, adopted kids identify their birth and adoptive parents, and if they wish, they can stay in touch with their siblings also.

Adopting step child

A step parent adoption involves adopting the baby of a new partner of any of the biological parents. It is simpler process and can be easily done if the birth parents have no issues to go ahead.

However, in case, one of the parents doesn’t want their baby to be adopted by the new spouse, they can raise legal issues. In such case, interested adoptive parents may have to seek the help of an attorney to deal with the legal paperwork to resolve the matter.

Relative adoption

A relative can adopt a baby. Though not all the states and countries allow such adoption, this type of adoption is relatively simpler if the birth and adoptive parents are okay. The most common reason which leads to this adoption is any circumstances where the birth parents are not alive or not able to take care of the child. In some cases, it is the inability of the adoptive parents to become parents through biologically route.

It is always better to get acquainted with various types of adoption choices before you sign up for anything.