Women who are considering adoption for their babies have a lot of questions to ask. Here are some of the most common ones we hear.
How soon do I have to make up my mind?
There are real benefits to deciding early in your pregnancy that your child will be best off in a loving adoptive home. But you do not have a deadline. You can decide in the hospital or even after you take the baby home. You can also change your mind anywhere in the process before the adoption becomes final. You don’t need to feel pressured to make up your mind. Focusing on that imaginary deadline can actually make it harder to decide.
What does it cost to put a baby up for adoption?
There is no cost for the birth mom. Often, the financial stress of an unplanned pregnancy is at the top of your mind when you first find out you’re expecting. This fear can overshadow the questions that are actually more significant in the long run. If you choose adoption, you should know that the adoptive parents are allowed to provide financial support for their baby’s mom during her pregnancy. Adoption costs nothing for the mom.
Who has to agree to let me place my baby with an adoptive family?
You may worry that your parents don’t want you to place your child for adoption. You may believe that the father won’t agree to adoption. You may be feeling pressure from other people in your life to make a different choice for your baby. These influences can be stressful. But Arkansas law is very clear on who really gets to have a say in the matter.
What if I don’t know who the father is?
An unplanned pregnancy can always bring up a challenging mix of emotions. Add uncertainty about who the father is, and you can add a feeling of having to face the situation alone, anger, or even shame to what may already be a trying time. Sometimes moms aren’t sure whether this situation will complicate the process of finding an adoptive family for their child. Fortunately, Arkansas law has guidelines.
Will my baby go into foster care?
Expectant moms considering adoption may worry that their child will be placed in foster care if they decide that they cannot provide a safe and stable home for the child. Fortunately, there are usually loving parents waiting for the opportunity to adopt your baby without your child needing to spend any time in foster care.
Adoption vs. Foster Care: What’s the Difference for My Baby and Me?
Can I choose the adoptive family?
Arkansas law makes every effort to empower birth moms. One of the many choices you have is which family you want to provide the home for your baby. There are usually multiple prospective parents looking for an opportunity to adopt a baby, and you can look at their profiles, learn about them, and meet them. In Arkansas, you are allowed to stipulate the religious background and other details you hope for, and your adoption professionals will do their best to find a family that fits your criteria.
Heimer Law is a family law firm with a specialization in adoption. We can answer your questions and help you understand your options. Call
(479) 225.9725 for a no-cost, no-obligation conversation.