We are excited that you are considering adoption with us. You need to research your adoption options. The process of adoption can be rather intimidating and you may be feeling a little overwhelmed, both about the choices you must make and who to trust.

The following are some questions you may have about adoption. If you have more, please don’t hesitate to call us.

How long will it take to adopt a newborn?
Is Adoption expensive?
What if a Birth Mother never chooses us?
Will this overwhelm and consume us?
What about the birth father?
I'm single, does that mean I can't adopt?
What is a home study?
What do I need to get started?

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How long will it take to adopt a newborn?

On a local level, it can take a long time to find a child to adopt, such as going through an agency. This is owed to the fact that we have abortion in the US and there are not as many babies available as there are families waiting. Small local agencies will have a limited number of birth mothers with whom they are working. There are not a lot of birth mothers in any one environment. Yet, on a national level, your odds increase. This is why national advertising is so important. Also, we only work with a small number of families which too, increase your odds.

Is Adoption expensive?

Ideally, adoption would be low or no cost. In reality, because of the extensive legal issues, birth mother needs and expenses, overhead, and advertising to find birth mothers, adoption can be costly. It can, however, be tailored to your needs and there are options to keep your costs down. If adoption is your priority, it can be designed to meet your budget and can, indeed, be affordable! There is a tax credit, so you need to check with your accountant.

Through ABL Adoptions your adoption will range from $20-27k, which includes legal and birth mother expenes.  But remember there is the adoption tax credit for 2008 is 11,650 per child that you will receive after finalization.  So basically our adoptions end up costing between $9-16k.

What if a Birth Mother never chooses us?

Birth parents range in age from 13 to 45. They have varied interests and priorities. They come from every race and religious background. Their choices are just as varied as there are waiting families. While one birth mother may request a specific region where the family may live, others will look for a specific religion. Where one birth mother may want a traditional family with mother and father, another may want to place with a single parent. Still another birth mother may want to gift a family who otherwise may not be able to parent, and so she chooses someone with an alternative lifestyle. There is someone for everyone and each family will be chosen by the birth mother who finds them most suitable for her. Because of our widespread advertising, all types of birth mothers in search of all types of families look to us to help plan their adoption. For you, this means you have choices as well. In a successful adoption plan, everyone benefits.

Will this overwhelm and consume us?

Undoubtedly, everyone who opts to build a family through adoption has concerns and fears about how they will achieve their goal. It can be complicated for a couple who is used to being in control of every part of their lives to hand over that control to the adoption professionals, legal professionals, or birth mothers with whom they are working. It is typical to feel this way and it can be stressful when you are dealing with an outcome that is not yet determined. Still, we can assure you that we're here to help you every step of the way. We will give you all the details and information we have at our disposal and you will make the decisions that affect your adoption. We will outline the steps you will take and try to make the process as stress-free as we possibly can!

What about the birth father?

We value birth fathers' rights. This means that if a birth father is capable to be a parent and he has the resources to do so, then he should be allowed to parent the child. However, many times, a birth father will not cooperate simply because he wants to control the situation - not because he wants to parent the child. In general, if the birth mother is making an adoption plan, it is due to the fact that the birth father is not participating or assisting her. Your attorney will be responsible for terminating his rights. This may occur in any one of several different ways.

It is true that a birth father may claim his rights if they have not been properly respected and terminated. As long as a termination of the father's rights occurs, then you are protected legally. Hiring the proper attorney to be certain this is done is very important and will safeguard your adoption. A Bond of Love Adoptions cannot give you legal advice, but we'll guide you to the proper professionals or you may select your own attorney.

I'm single, does that mean I can't adopt?

Due to the lack of birth mothers, some agencies limit their services to couples with specific ages, number of children already in the home or other criteria. They won't find a birth mother for single people or those with alternative lifestyles. As private agencies, they may choose who they serve. However, we do not discriminate based on age, race, lifestyle or marital status. If you are capable to obtain a home study in your state and qualify for adoption, you are eligible to adopt through A Bond of Life Adoptions.

What is a home study?

A home study is an in-home assessment (details below) by a licensed adoption agency or licensed social worker. As part of the adoption process, you will be required to have a home study. A social worker will come to your home and ask several questions about your life, both personal, professional and about your extended family. You will also need a physical completed and a criminal background check done. The social worker will provide you with the forms. They call it a home study, but what it really is, is a study about what kind of person you are.

What do I need to get started?

1. Decide who you want to find your birth mother and coordinate your adoption.

2. Obtain a home study. Depending upon your choice, you will have either an agency social worker or an independent social worker come to your home and meet with you. They will explain the rules of your state and what the requirements will be. If you would like, we can put you in touch with someone in your area.

3. Get ready for you new addition! With our services, it is fairly simple. As you are accepted into our program, you will retain our services by paying a flat fee. The cost for the ads and our adoption advertising coordination services are payable in full at the time you retain us. This fee will render adoption facilitation services involving resources, advertising and networking in connection with the routine domestic adoption of one child within a twenty-four month period, whichever occurs first.

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