How to Adopt without an Agency

Prospective parents sometimes seek out a way to adopt without an agency. This is a valid pursuit, and may be the best way for you to build your family, but it is not without challenges.

In this article, we’ll elaborate on some of those challenges, and discuss ways to overcome them.

Our mission is to unite children with loving families who will give them a safe, supportive home.

That’s why our range of service covers several different scenarios, including providing support to certain kinds of adoption without an agency. If you want to adopt someone you already know, but need the professional knowledge and support, contact us today.

Adoption without an Agency in Indiana: Independent Adoption

An adoption that is not run by an adoption agency is called an independent adoption. Independent adoptions are legal in Indiana, and can be a good option for many families, particularly if they’ve already located a birth parent that plans to place their baby with an adoptive family. Reasons an adoptive family may choose to adopt independently may include:

• Potentially Lowering Costs: Independent adoption can be much less expensive than adopting with an agency.

• Retaining Personal Control: Some feel that Independent Adoption gives them more control over their adoption process

Drawbacks of Adoption without an Agency

Independent adoption presents some challenges other forms of adoption do not, because of the lack of crucial resources agencies provide.

Some of the issues on this list can be significant road blocks to an adoption, while others could be seen as minor inconveniences. With Independent adoption, it’s up to you what you want to spend your time and resources addressing.

How to Adopt without an Agency in 3 Steps

If you’re sure adoption without an agency is the best path forward for your family, then we’re here to help you. First, you need to have a solid understanding of Indiana’s state adoption laws, and determine what other laws may factor in.

Next you have two large items, the home study and the adoption finalization hearing, that you’ll need to plan out.

Step 1: Understand State Adoption Law

Federal and state laws are a huge concern when adopting independently. Knowing the laws of your state can be the difference between a successful adoption and the court placing your child in foster care. And, if adopting over state lines, you’ll need to know the intricacies of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, and also abide by the laws of your child’s home state.

Step 2: Hire a Home Study Agency

The first step you’ll want to take for an adoption without an agency is find a home study provider. This is the only step of the independent adoption process that absolutely cannot be completed without the help of a third party.

A home study is a process where a social worker inspects your house, reviews medical, financial and other necessary documents and interviews members of the household. This is done so that the state can make sure you will provide a safe home for your future child. It is required for every form of adoption, and for foster care.

As a licensed home study agency in Indiana, we’d be happy to help you prepare your home and conduct your home study.

Step 3: Hire an Adoption Attorney

Families who choose adoption without an agency often hire adoption attorneys to assist them. Technically this is optional, as you do have the right to represent yourself at your adoption hearing; however, it is strongly recommended that you enlist a professional.

If you choose to represent yourself in court, you must abide by all court rules and format all your submissions properly. Your finalization hearing could be discontinued for many reasons, even small clerical mistakes in your filing.

If this happens, it’s up to the court how to proceed, but you will not be given parental rights to your child. In most cases, the judge will order the child returned to the birth parent, placed with a biological family member, or placed in foster care.

Considering the possible consequences of complete independent adoption, most families choose to enlist an attorney, law firm or adoption agency early on in their process, to address legal concerns before they begin.

Identified Adoptions

There are many common situations where an independent adoption works very well. These situations are most common when the adoptive parents already know the birth mother of their future child, which we call an identified adoption.

Identified adoptions include situations where the adoptive parents and the birth mother are related, such as an uncle and aunt adopting a niece or nephew. Another slightly less common situation is when a birth mother’s child is adopted by close personal friends.

Identified adoptions don’t have to be independent adoptions. Many agencies, such as American Adoptions of Indiana, have identified adoption programs, where parents and birth mothers can receive all the benefits of working with a full-service agency at a reduced cost.

This means that your home study and adoption attorney are taken care of, and you will be able to legally provide adoption assistance to your child’s birth mother. Learn more about our identified program by reaching out to us today.

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