Call: 800-722-7731
Text: 617-777-0072
As a non-profit, private, domestic agency, we work closely alongside expectant/birth parents throughout Alabama to create loving and thoughtful adoption plans for each baby. Our team of highly trained, compassionate social workers in Alabama offers expert guidance and constant support throughout every stage of the adoption process.
At Adoptions With Love, our primary goal is to find the best possible home for your child. If you are currently considering the positive choice of adoption in Alabama, know that we are here and that we would be honored to help you with an adoption plan for your baby.
Understanding Alabama Adoption Laws
Adoption laws can be complex and vary by state. It is important to have an adoption agency that can offer you legal support. An Alabama adoption agency, such as Adoptions With Love, can provide you with an attorney who is well-versed with the adoption laws in the Heart of Dixie. These adoption attorneys can help ensure your adoption is handled safely and legally, while safeguarding your rights. It can also be helpful to get familiar with the Alabama adoption laws for your own understanding of the adoption process.
In Alabama, birth parents may consent to the adoption any time – before or after the baby is born. Consent may be withdrawn within five days after birth, or within five days of signing the consent forms – whichever comes first. At Adoptions With Love, we encourage birth parents to take all the time they need before signing consent forms for adoption. It is never too late to make an adoption plan. You should be confident in your decision before signing any paperwork.
Types of Adoption Services in Alabama
The first step to adoption in Alabama is finding the right adoption professional. There are several types of Alabama adoption agencies from which you may choose. The following is a quick guide that will help you determine the right type of Alabama adoption agency for you.
Full-service Private Adoption Agencies
A full-service, private adoption agency in Alabama can take care of every step of the adoption process. From adoption planning to finding safe, loving and responsible adoptive parents, an Alabama adoption agency like Adoptions With Love can help support and guide you through the journey. A supportive adoption agency like AWL can also offer support well beyond completion of the adoption. We understand that the adoption journey does not end once the paperwork is signed. . Adoption is a life-long journey. We offer compassionate counseling services for up to a year following the adoption, and we can aid in the communication between birth and adoptive families. Adoptions With Love offers support services at no cost to the expectant/birth mother. In fact, financial aid is given to those making an adoption plan.
International Adoption Agencies
International adoption agencies are appropriate for adoptive families looking to adopt a child born outside of the U.S. This is not the type of adoption agency that expectant/birth mothers in the U.S. work with, as this is the adoption of children born outside of the country.
Foster Care Adoption Agencies
Foster care is a state-run system that helps place children who have been removed from their homes. Children are placed in foster care because a family court judge has deemed their birth parents unfit to raise them. This is not a voluntary option for birth parents. If you are voluntarily considering adoption for your child, you are going to opt for a private adoption agency.
Selecting the Right Adoption Agency in Alabama
When considering adoption in Alabama, you may find yourself wondering: ‘How do I choose the adoption agency?’ You can use the information below to help you find the Alabama adoption agency that makes you feel confident in your decision.
Factors to Consider
There are several factors to consider before choosing an adoption agency, such as:
Responsiveness. Does this adoption agency respond quickly to your request? Will you get personal attention throughout the adoption process? The best Alabama adoption agencies will meet you at a time and place that is convenient for you – whether it is at your home or the hospital.
Compassionate care. Your Alabama adoption agency should understand and respect your needs. You should be treated with dignity and never pressured into any decisions regarding your pregnancy or adoption. As a reputable adoption agency that has been working with Alabama birth mothers since 1986, Adoptions With Love will prioritize your health and well-being.
Supportive services. Will your adoption professional offer you services to help you throughout the pregnancy? At Adoptions With Love, we offer the following, all at no cost to you:
- Counseling services, before and after the adoption is
- Legal services, with experienced Alabama adoption attorneys.
- Adoption planning services, custom-designed to meet your needs.
- Financial aid, to assist with living expenses during pregnancy.
- Medical coverage. We can help you find a doctor or midwife that understands your needs. We can cover any uninsured medical expenses related to your pregnancy and birth, reimbursed after the adoption is complete.
Importance of Choosing a Licensed Alabama Adoption Agency
It is crucial to work with a licensed Alabama adoption agency when planning your child’s adoption. This professional will ensure that your adoption is handled safely and legally, and that your child goes to a healthy, stable, and loving home. At Adoptions With Love, every adoptive family must complete the home study. This process takes several months to complete, and includes thorough screenings and background checks, multiple home visits and interviews with each member of the household, and the review of important medical and financial records.
Costs Associated with Alabama Adoption Agencies
Navigating an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming at first. You were not expecting this, and you may be worried about your finances. This is a common concern for expectant/birth mothers.
With a supportive Alabama adoption agency, like Adoptions With Love, you can get financial support during this difficult time in your life. In fact, you can get help with the following expenses:
- We can cover a deposit and several months of rent.
- Other living expenses, such as utilities, phone bills, transportation, food, and maternity clothes, if needed.
- Medical coverage. We can reimburse any uninsured medical bills related to the pregnancy and birth once the adoption is complete.
Making an adoption plan can feel overwhelming, but, with the help of an Alabama adoption agency, it does not have to feel quite so stressful. Adoptions With Love can alleviate the financial burden that many expectant/birth mothers often feel during pregnancy. This way, you can focus on your health, your baby’s health, and your adoption planning.
Alabama Adoption Agency FAQ
How do I choose the right adoption plan?
Your adoption agency can help you determine the type of adoption plan that will best meet your needs, without any pressure or biased opinions.
Can I change my adoption plan during the pregnancy?
Yes. You can change your adoption plan at any time, even after the adoption is complete. Your adoption professional can help you adjust your plan to best meet your needs and the needs of your growing child over the years.
When do I need to finalize the adoption plan?
You can take as much time as you need before signing the adoption consent forms and post-adoption contact agreement. It is never too late to make an adoption plan.
How long does it take to finalize adoption in Alabama?
In Alabama, the adoption finalization hearing is typically scheduled about 60 days after the initial placement of a child. This hearing takes place in your local county probate court. Your Alabama adoption agency will coordinate the date and time of this hearing. You do not need to appear in court.
Can a child be adopted without the father’s consent in Alabama?
Yes. Birth fathers are only required to sign consent forms if they acknowledge their paternity of the child. Birth father laws are typically handled on a case-by-case basis. Your adoption professional can give you more information based on your relationship with the birth father.
Will I regret giving my baby up for adoption?
Adoption offers many benefits for birth mothers. It is not the right path for everyone, but it can be a positive decision that offers a bright future for both mother and child. If you have doubts about your decision, it is important to take some extra time to consider the adoption plan before signing consent forms. At Adoptions With Love, we encourage birth mothers to take all the time they need before making their final decision. You should feel confident in your adoption plan.
Keeping in Touch with the Adoptive Family
We can offer assistance over the years with communications between birth and adoptive families. We can also help you tweak the adoption plan at any point, should you feel that you – and/or your child – need a change.
Counseling and Support
Adoption is a lifelong journey. It does not end once the ink is dried on the adoption forms. It is, in fact, the beginning of a new chapter. Adoptions With Love offers compassionate counseling for up to a year following the adoption. We also stay connected with birth mothers over the years to check in and see how life is going. Every birth mother that we work with becomes family, and we maintain relationships long after the adoption is filed.
How to Get Started with an Alabama Adoption Agency
Once you have determined that adoption is an option that you may want to pursue, your first step is to contact an Alabama adoption agency. This professional can help walk you through the adoption process and offer you comfort and care throughout your journey. At Adoptions With Love, we can hold your hand every step of the way, offering you the respect and dignity you deserve.
Are you ready to get your Alabama adoption started? Contact Adoptions With Love today for support and guidance. Call anytime: 800-722-7731, text confidentially: 617-777-0072, or contact us online.
Adoptions With Love is a trusted nationwide adoption agency specializing in Alabama adoptions since 1986."