In North Carolina, independent adoption is one of the options available to parents considering adoption. By definition, adoption refers to the process of establishing a parent-child relationship between persons. Adoption Law is covered in chapter 48 of the North Carolina General Statutes. The adoption process begins legally when the adoptive parents file a petition for adoption.
What is Independent Adoption?
In an independent adoption, the couple who is looking to adopt a child, looks for and finds a child for adoption without the help of an adoption agency. Independent adoption may be facilitated by a non-licensed intermediary such as a friend, relative, physician or anyone else.
Nature of Independent Adoption
By its nature, an independent adoption is an open or ‘identified’ process, where the names and addresses of the birth parents have to be supplied and thus, become known to the adoptive parents. (By contrast, agency adoptions can be open or closed). As with agency adoption, law requires that in an independent adoption, background information, including health history be provided to the adoptive parents
In an independent adoption, the birth parents (or mother) give the consent directly to the adoptive parents. In case of agency adoption, the parental rights are relinquished to the agency, which in turn gives the consent for adoption.
Benefits of Independent Adoption
Independent adoption offers a possibility of shorter waiting periods for the adoptive parents and cuts through the (sometimes) bureaucratic requirements of adoption agencies. For birth mothers, there is a chance of playing a more active role in selecting a new family for the child. And importantly, independent adoptions facilitate face to face meeting between birth and adoptive parents, the psychological benefits of which cannot be underscored.
We at McIlveen Family Law Firm have considerable experience in the various legal aspects related to independent adoptions. We will guide you right from filing the petition for adoption. We can also help in reducing the stress associated with the pre-placement home study approval that is mandatory.
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