Is adoption right for me?
Only you can decide that.
If you do not want an abortion, but cannot or do not want to raise a child, adoption may be a good choice for you.
Adoption
What are the steps in an adoption?
You will need to do the following four things to go through with an adoption.
Do I have to wait until after the baby is born to decide on adoption?
Yes.
You have to wait until the baby is born to decide on adoption and sign the legal papers to make it final. But you do not have to wait to find information and make a plan.
If I decide to place the baby for adoption, what do I do first?
To make an adoption plan for your baby, you can work with an adoption agency to find the adoptive parents (agency adoption) or work with an adoption lawyer (independent adoption.)
What are the differences between an agency adoption and an independent adoption?
What are the differences between an agency adoption and an independent adoption?
An agency adoption involves you, the people at an adoption agency, and the adoptive parents. And independent adoption involves you, the adoptive parents, and an adoption lawyer. Keep reading below to learn more about the differences.
How do I find an adoption lawyer?
To find an adoption lawyer, contact the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers. You can visit their website at www.acal.org, or call 1-818-501-8355. The lawyers there will help you no matter how old you are.
Do I have to give the baby’s father’s name on the adoption paperwork?
Yes, in most cases.
What if the presumed father does not agree to adoption?
If you are in the middle of an adoption, the presumed father can ask the court to stop the adoption if he wants custody. If this happens, you can still ask for custody. You may be able to raise the child yourself, or to share custody with the father.
For an adoption, what if I don’t know where the father is?
If you cannot find the father, and the court decides that your adoption agency or lawyer tried hard to find him, the adoption can take place without him. You will need to sign a statement saying that you alone have custody of the baby.
What if I do not want to choose who will adopt the baby?
If you don’t want to choose who adopts your baby, you can give up custody through your county’s Social Service Agency (SSA) or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). They will try to find a home for your baby.
Who can adopt the baby and what will I know about them?
Adoptive parent(s) must be 21 or older and at least 10 years older than the child. In some cases, the court may allow a relative who is less than 10 years older than the child to adopt him or her.
How do I know that the people who adopt the baby will be good parents?
Anyone who wants to adopt in California must go through a “home study” with a licensed adoption agency.
What if the adoptive parents do not follow the agreement?
Generally, the agency or judge will try to make the adoptive parents do what they said they would do. But even if the parents refuse to obey your contact agreement, the judge will not undo the adoption.
What is a presumed father for purposes of an adoption?
A presumed father has the same rights as the mother.
What is a natural father for purposes of an adoption?
A natural father (also called an alleged father) does not have as many rights as a presumed father.