Maryland Adoption Agency

“All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy in Maryland, you may be considering adoption. Adoption is a brave, selfless, and incredibly loving choice. It allows an expectant/birth mother to provide her child with a stable and loving family, at a time when she is not able or ready to parent. This decision requires a lot of love and consideration.

The most important step in starting the adoption process is to find an adoption agency that meets your needs. As you search for the right Maryland adoption agency, you will want to know what to look for and how to choose the best one for you. In this guide, we have compiled what you need to know about adoption agencies in Maryland and starting the adoption process.

What are the Types of Adoption Agencies in Maryland?

There are several types of adoption agencies in Maryland, including:

Private Adoption Agencies

Private adoption agencies in Maryland offer a range of services for expectant/birth parents. Most expectant/birth parents considering adoption choose to work with a private adoption agency, so that they can make choices throughout their pregnancy. Private adoption agencies work with expectant/birth parents who are choosing adoption voluntarily, and help to match babies with the best possible adoptive families. Private adoption agencies are also the popular choice for prospective adoptive parents who are looking to adopt an infant.

A private adoption agency will typically handle everything related to the adoption process – from helping you choose a family for your baby, to finalizing legal paperwork. Their work is dedicated to finding the best possible families for babies, and ensuring expectant/birth parents are supported with counseling, financial aid, and education every step of the way.

Foster Care Adoption

Foster care agencies are public agencies that are part of the child welfare system. These agencies help to find safe, loving families for children in foster care.

Foster care is not typically a path chosen by the birth mother, but rather for a birth mother because she has been deemed unfit to care for a child. In this case, the state comes in and removes the baby or child from the birth parent’s home.

What is the Best Agency for Expectant/Birth Mothers?

Adoption is a big step when facing an unplanned pregnancy. It is easy to get overwhelmed during the process, which is where a Maryland adoption agency can help. By empowering you with information and answering questions and concerns regarding your pregnancy options – not just adoption – an adoption professional can help you get started.

Before deciding on an adoption agency, do some research and consider the services offered by each, such as:

• Financial assistance, as needed
• Counseling services before and after the adoption
• Legal support
• Assistance custom-designing an adoption plan that meets your needs and wishes
• Medical coverage, if needed

At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers are never charged a fee for any of the services mentioned above. In fact, if and when you choose adoption, you can receive financial assistance that relates to your pregnancy and the adoption process.

In addition to these services offered, look for an adoption agency in Maryland that will meet you where it is convenient for you. Ensure this agency always treats you with the respect, dignity, and compassion you deserve. You should never feel obligated to choose adoption. You should never feel pressure, bias, or judgment when making any choice regarding your pregnancy. You are the birth parent and this is YOUR choice. You are in the driver’s seat.

Learn More About Adoption in Maryland

How to Choose an Adoption Agency in Maryland

As you begin to consider adoption in Maryland, consider the type of adoption agency you want to have working with you throughout the journey. Think about the types of professionals listed above and look online for some organizations that offer adoption services in your area.

Scan their websites to get a feel for the adoption services they offer and how they approach the adoption process. Make contact with one – or more – of these organizations and speak with someone to get a feel for how you will be treated. You can make a checklist of things that are important to you, such as:

• Round-the clock service
• Pressure-free support
• Respect and compassion
• Counseling before, during, and after the adoption
• Free legal services

Once you have found an adoption agency that meets your needs, you may begin to move forward with your adoption planning.

Contact AWL

Which Adoption Agency Services are Offered in Maryland?

Adoption is not a journey that any expectant/birth mother should face alone. You deserve respect, support, and guidance throughout the entire journey.

An adoption agency in Maryland can provide you with an attorney, located in Maryland, who is fully trained in all adoption laws and legal matters. You can also find an organization that offers compassionate counseling services with professionals who are experienced in this specific subject.

Adoption should never cost you a dime and you can find the following services in Maryland adoption agencies:

• Rent
• Food
• Transportation
• Medical Expenses
• Maternity Clothes
• Other living expenses

A successful adoption plan needs to be suited to the needs of you and your child.  Adoptions are not the same for everyone, so the plans must be flexible and personalized.  You and your baby should be the number one priority at your chosen adoption agency and these professionals can work with you to design the best adoption plan for you and your baby.

At Adoptions With Love, we will help you to:

• Decide on the best family for your baby. We will provide you with comprehensive information and photo albums of our prospective families who are ready to adopt. You can choose the family that you think is the best match for your baby. Each of our families has been very carefully screened by us with background checks and we have been to each of their homes. We can also arrange an in-person meeting or a call with a specific family at your convenience.
• Choose between an open or closed adoption plan. You design the type of adoption you want: open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. The right plan is the plan with which you feel most comfortable. If you choose to have a closed adoption, you can open it at a later date. Our flexible options give expectant/birthmothers a sense of security that is especially welcome during this difficult time.
• Medical Care. If you have not yet had medical care, we will help you find a reputable and caring doctor. You and your baby are important and we can help you find the care you both deserve.
• Create a lifelong connection with our agency and/or your adoptive family, if you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Maryland Adoption Process

How do I give my baby up for adoption in Maryland?

1. Consider your options and meet with a professional – Take your time and weigh all of your options. You should never feel pressured when it comes to your pregnancy decisions.
2. Choose an adoption agency in Maryland. This agency should be able to offer support and services that meet your needs.
3. Choose an adoptive family. If you wish, you can meet with them before the baby is born.
4. Understand Maryland’s adoption laws. Your adoption agency can connect you with experienced adoption attorneys who are well-versed in the laws in Maryland.
5. Create a post-adoption plan. Your adoption specialist can help you design a plan that makes you feel comfortable, such as open adoption.

Learn more about how to place your baby for adoption in Maryland here.

How much does it cost to place my baby for adoption in Maryland?

There is never any cost for placing a baby for adoption in Maryland. In fact, you can get financial support from an adoption agency to help you during this difficult time.

When can I give my baby up for adoption in Maryland?

In Maryland, a birth mother cannot sign consent forms until after the baby is born. This gives you the chance to meet your child and make your final decision before placing your child for adoption.

Does the birth father have rights in Maryland?

The State of Maryland has a paternity registry, also known as a putative father registry. This allows birth fathers to voluntarily acknowledge their paternity when a child is born outside of wedlock. If a father submits to this, he may have paternal rights to the child. Contact your adoption agency for more information regarding the birth father’s rights in Maryland.

What are the benefits of choosing adoption for my baby?

There are many benefits in choosing adoption for your child. An open adoption plan means your child will be raised in a safe, stable, and healthy home full of love and opportunity. Open adoption also means that your child will have access to information about his birth family, background, and the chance to speak with – and even meet with – you, when you are ready. Nearly all children in open adoptions report having positive feelings about their adoption, and they are more likely to be read to and sung to every night.

Is Maryland an open adoption state?

Yes, Maryland offers open adoption for expectant/birth mothers and adoptees. Most adoptions today are open adoptions, meaning there is ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families. You can choose the adoption plan that you feel most comfortable with, whether that is an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. At Adoptions With Love, all hopeful adoptive families agree to at least a semi-open adoption plan.

What happens after I place my baby for adoption in Maryland?

Once the adoption is finalized, you can begin to move forward to the next chapter of your life. You will want to take some time to heal – both physically and emotionally. Adoptions With Love offers counseling services at no cost to birth mothers for up to a year following adoption.

After the adoption is finalized, you may begin to (or continue to) build your relationship with your child’s adoptive family, if you wish. You can keep up with them via text messages, emails, phone calls, or however you decide to design your adoption plan. You can also begin to pursue your own professional and personal dreams.