Private (or Independent) Adoption

Private (or independent) adoptions are done through adoption attorneys, and may or may not involve an adoption opportunity that is located and arranged by the attorney. If so, the "finding" function that the attorney performs will increase the cost. Click here for more information on private adoption costs.  

In some states, private attorneys cannot be involved in the "finding" and "matching" phases of an adoption, but are limited to finalizing the legal part of the adoption in court once the match has taken place.

Private adoptions usually involve infants, but this is not always the case. If they involve non-infants or sibling groups, it will usually be before these children have been absorbed into the state foster care system, or before there is involvement by Child Protective Services.

See our Directory of Adoption Professionals to find an adoption attorney in your area.

Detailed options in Independent Adoption

1. Getting Started with Adoption
2. How Many People Choose Adoption?
3. Is Adoption Right for You?
4. Adoption Self-Assessment Quiz
5. Which Children Are Available for Adoption?
6. Sibling Groups
7. Who Can Adopt?
8. Qualification Requirements for Adopting Parents
9. Your Adoption Options
10. Agency Adoption
11. Private (or Independent) Adoption
12. Options in Independent Adoption
13. Adoption Facilitators
14. International Adoption
15. Foster Adoption
16. Stepparent Adoption
17. Transracial Adoption
18. Special Needs Adoption
19. Military Adoption
20. Making an Adoption Plan
21. Selecting an Adoption Professional
22. Getting an Adoption Homestudy
23. Adoption Costs
24. Why Do Costs Seem So High?
25. Help Handling the Costs of Adoption
26. The Adoption Tax Credit
27. Adoption Subsidies
28. Employer Adoption Benefits
29. Networking & Networking Tools
30. Legal Issues in Adoption
31. Evaluating Adoption Risks
32. Open Adoption
33. Breastfeeding the Adopted Child
34. Coping With the Wait
35. Glossary of Terms
36. Recommended Reading
37. Conclusion