SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT ADOPTION …
If I think
about adoption, won't that mean I don't love my baby?
No, it doesn't mean that at all. In fact, it takes a
lot of love to make an adoption plan for your child. It can be a difficult emotional experience even if you know that, in
the long run, it will probably be a good choice for both of you.
What does adoption mean for me and my child?
You are the birth parent, the biological parent of your
child. Even if you choose adoption and your child is raised by another couple, you will always be the birth parent. You gave
your child life and his or her medical and genetic background. You made an adoption plan to provide for your child's needs
in the way you felt was best.
The other parents are called adoptive parents. They
will be legally responsible for raising the child and taking care of him or her on a daily basis. The adoptive parents are
the ones who will buy the baby's food and clothing, change diapers and rock the baby to sleep. They are the ones who will
raise the child as he or she grows into a toddler, a school age child, a teenager and an adult. The person your child becomes
will be a combination of the love and heritage given to him or her by both sets of parents.
Do I have any rights or choices in adoption?
Yes. As the birth parent, you can be as involved as
you want to be in choosing your child's adoptive parents and the nature of your adoption experience. Also, you may change
your mind about the adoption at any time before your parental rights are ended by signing the consents for the adoption. This
happens approximately 48 hours after birth.
Where can I get more information and counseling?
The agency or attorney you choose to facilitate your
adoption may allow you much control or little control in the adoption process. You may want to consult with a number of attorneys
and agencies to determine who will best facilitate your desires. At the Law Office of Linda Barnby you are encouraged to be
in control and make all the decisions that are important to you.
What is "open" adoption?
There are three types of adoption. One may be right for
you. An Open Adoption is full disclosure by both parties of all identifying information. In a Semi-open Adoption, birth parents
and adoptive parents meet each other or talk over the phone, but do not exchange identifying information. In a "closed" or
traditional adoption there is no personal contact.
At the Law
Office of Linda Barnby, birth parents and adoptive parents are encouraged to meet each other, if they choose, and to
exchange pictures and letters for a period of time after the placement and to make a plan for continued contact for a lifetime.
What about the birth father?
It is important that the birth father be aware of the
pregnancy. You and the attorney will work together to provide the birth father with appropriate notice to insure the
adoption is legally secure and to protect your rights and maintain your confidentiality.
Some final thoughts…
The choices are yours. Don't let anyone try to make
them for you. No matter what age you are, you have the right to decide whether you want to make an adoption plan, and if you
do make an adoption plan, you have the right to pick the kind of plan you want to make. You are responsible for planning your
child's future.
It is difficult to decide whether or not making an adoption
plan is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your child. We hope that the information contained in this website
will help you as you think about this important decision.
Your next step may be to contact several agencies and
attorneys to get complete and accurate information about the choices available to you. Making a call for information and counseling
does not commit you to an adoption plan. It does arm you with the information you need to make the right decisions for you.
