A Guide to Private Adoption in Massachusetts

Full-service adoptions for birth parents and adoptive families

About Our Massachusetts Adoption Agency

Adoptions With Love is a licensed, non-profit adoption agency in Massachusetts. We have been helping expectant/birth mothers and prospective adoptive families make adoption plans since 1986. It is our goal to make sure each baby is placed in a safe and loving home. Adoptions With Love facilitates more adoptions in Massachusetts than any other local, private adoption agency.

In addition to matching children with loving families, Adoptions With Love works tirelessly to ensure expectant/birth mothers receive the support they need – financially, medically, and emotionally. All the while, we help hopeful adoptive families fulfill their dreams of becoming parents.

Working with an Adoption Agency in Massachusetts

Whether you are expectant/birth mother or a hopeful adoptive parent, working with a licensed adoption agency is a very important step. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all parties considering adoption to work with a private, non-profit adoption agency that is licensed in Massachusetts or DCF. This ensures every adoption is legal, safe, and secure.

Pregnant? Looking to Adopt?

Introduction to Private Adoption in Massachusetts

If you are considering placing your baby for adoption in Massachusetts, you may have questions about the process and what to expect. Private adoption offers expectant/birth mothers the opportunity to work closely with an adoption agency to create a personalized adoption plan that reflects their wishes and the best interests of their baby. Unlike foster care or state-run adoptions, private adoption allows you to have greater control over important decisions, such as choosing the adoptive family and deciding how much contact you would like to have with your child’s family in the future.

One of the key benefits of private adoption is the ability to choose the adoptive parents. Most agencies will provide you with profiles of prospective families, giving you the chance to select a family that aligns with your values and hopes for your child’s future. You will have the option to decide what level of communication with which you are comfortable. Open adoptions, where you maintain some form of contact through letters, photos, texting, video chats or visits, are increasingly common. You can choose an open, semi-open or closed adoption if that feels right for you.

Contact Us to Learn More About Adoption

Throughout the process, you will receive support from adoption professionals who can guide you through each step. In Massachusetts, birth mothers have access to counseling and legal guidance to ensure they feel confident and informed about their decision. You will not face pressure to follow through with the adoption until you are certain it is the right choice for you and your baby. Private adoption is a deeply personal decision, and understanding your rights and options can help you feel more at ease as you navigate this emotional process.

Overview of Adoption Agencies in Massachusetts

An adoption agency is an organization that helps pregnant women, expectant/birth parents, and families through the adoption journey. Adoption agencies provide education, emotional support, financial assistance, and other expert services throughout the adoption process. Adoption agencies must be licensed to facilitate adoptions in their state.

Choosing to work with a licensed adoption agency in Massachusetts is required, as described above. However, choosing a reputable and experienced adoption agency in Massachusetts can make an incredible difference. This agency will provide you with peace of mind, comfort, education, and unbiased support.

There are various types of Massachusetts adoption agencies, each offering a wide range of services depending on your needs. These may include counseling, legal assistance, and adoption agreements.

Types of Adoption Services Available in Massachusetts

1. Private adoption agencies

Are you looking to adopt an infant? Or are you an expectant/birth parent looking to make an adoption plan for your baby? A private adoption agency will be the right type of organization for you.

In private adoption, an expectant/birth mother voluntarily places her baby for adoption. She has the power to choose the adoptive family for her baby and create an open adoption plan. She is fully supported throughout the process, and often benefits from long-term counseling, financial support, and legal guidance at every step of the way.

Private adoption agencies also support adoptive families in providing them with educational meetings, matching, legal support, and other services. For example, private adoption agencies offer home studies and background checks – typical requirements to be approved to adopt – which help ensure a family is stable and ready for a child.

Both expectant/birth mothers and prospective adoptive families like to work with private adoption agencies that guide them through the entire process. Adoptions With Love is a private adoption agency in MA and has been working with adoptive parents and expectant/birth parents since 1986. Reach out to the compassionate and caring staff 24/7 for assistance with your adoption.

2. Foster care agencies

Foster care works a bit differently than private adoption. While it can be a wonderful path for adoptive parents to grow their families, it does present its own set of challenges. Children in foster care are typically placed with a family after being removed from their home by the state.

If you would like to learn more about foster care in Massachusetts, reach out to one of the following Massachusetts adoption and foster care agencies:

3. International adoption agencies

If you are hoping to adopt a child from another country, you will want to explore an international adoption agency. From the international applications to visa requirements, this type of organization can inform you of everything you need to know about international adoption.

Understanding the MA Adoption Process

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is overwhelming. With the support of an adoption agency in Massachusetts you can have the support and guidance you need every step of the way. Understanding the adoption process ahead of time can be helpful, as well. Here is a breakdown of how private adoption in Massachusetts works and what you can expect throughout the journey.

1. Choose an Adoption Professional

The first step of the adoption process is finding your adoption agency. This is a critical step because this is the professional that will work with you throughout the entire experience. The best adoption agencies in Massachusetts offer supportive services – at no cost to you, the expectant/birth parent(s.) They will also treat you with the respect, dignity, and compassion you deserve.

2. Create an Adoption Plan

Once you have found the right adoption agency, you can begin to consider the type of adoption plan you would like to create. Your adoption agency can help you create an adoption plan that makes you feel comfortable – and confident in – your decision. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth parents can choose from the following adoption plans:

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to the adoption plan. You should choose the one that best suits your needs. Your open adoption can be custom-made to work with your lifestyle and relationship with the adoptive family. You may choose, for example, to stay connected through picture and letter updates, email or occasional text messaging, or you may choose to have in-person reunions. The choices are yours.

Start Making Your Adoption Plan

3. Select an Adoptive Family

One of the benefits of choosing adoption is having the power to choose your child’s adoptive family. You can browse through the adoptive family profiles that your adoption agency has to offer. These profiles are of adoptive parents or individuals pre-approved for adoption. This is done with the Home Study – a process that takes several months to complete. It includes thorough background checks and screenings, multiple at-home visits and interviews, and the review of medical and financial records. This ensures that every child is placed in a safe, stable, and healthy home.

4. Give Birth and Finalize the Adoption

Once you have created your adoption plan and chosen your child’s adoptive family, you can prepare for childbirth. Your adoption agency can help you design a birth plan if you wish. This plan details the experience you wish to have at the hospital or birth center. Who do you want in the delivery room with you? Who should hold the baby first? Do you want some time alone with the baby after giving birth? These are just a few questions to ask yourself when creating this birth plan.

If you are making a last-minute adoption plan from the hospital, that is okay, too. You can make an adoption plan in the first trimester or after giving birth. It is never too late to choose adoption. Your adoption agency can meet you at any time and place that is convenient for you – whether it is at your home or by your hospital bed.

According to Massachusetts adoption laws, a birth mother may consent to the adoption no sooner than four days after the child’s birth. This gives you time to meet your baby and consider the decision before signing the legal paperwork. Once the paperwork is signed, the decision is final and irrevocable. This is another reason Adoptions With Love encourages birth parents to take all the time they need before making the decision.

5. Post-Adoption Contact and Support

Adoption is a lifelong journey. Once your adoption is complete, you should continue to pursue professional counseling. At Adoptions With Love, birth parents are given free counseling services for up to a year following the adoption. An adoption counselor can help you work through your many emotions following birth. Adoption often brings a roller-coaster of emotions. Many birth parents have described experiencing feelings of loss and grief after their adoption. A professional can help you process this grief, serve as a sounding board, and assist you throughout the healing process.

Speak With a Massachusetts Adoption Professional

Choosing the Right Massachusetts Adoption Agency

Are You Pregnant and Considering Adoption?

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, or have recently given birth, you may be considering adoption. Adoption offers many benefits to an expectant/birth mother and her child.

For those in Massachusetts, the adoption process begins with finding the right adoption agency. It is important to choose an adoption agency with which you feel comfortable. The right agency will be there to educate you on all your options, without pressure or judgement. This agency will listen to your wishes and your concerns and will be there to answer all your questions. The right adoption agency will support you in all stages of the adoption process, and help you make choices in the best interests of your baby.

Did you know that you can stay in touch with an adoptive family?

When working with an open adoption agency in Massachusetts, you will be given options. You may choose an open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption plan. Both open and semi-open adoption enables you to stay in touch with the adoptive family over the years and receive updates on how your child is growing. This gives many birth mothers peace of mind.

All waiting families at Adoptions With Love agree to at least a semi-open adoption plan, which includes sending letters and photos over the years. This openness is beneficial for birth parents, adoptive families, and their children. In fact, 90 percent of children over the age of five report having positive feelings about their open adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption in MA

When can you place a baby for adoption in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, expectant/birth mothers can start making an adoption plan at any time during pregnancy, or even after birth.

However, Massachusetts law states that parents cannot sign any legal documents allowing an adoption until four (4) days after the baby’s birth. This allows birth parents to take the time they need to think. There is no rush or pressure to make a decision immediately. If the birth parents need more time to decide what is best for their child, Adoptions With Love will make sure that the baby is well taken care of in one of our temporary, licensed cradle care homes in MA.

Birth mothers can sign a consent allowing the adoption. According to the Commonwealth, a birth parent’s consent forms are to be handled with privacy and confidentiality.

Once the legal documents are signed in Massachusetts, the decision is then considered final, as there is no revocation period in the state. That is why Adoptions With Love works closely with expectant/birth parents, making sure they are informed about their options and confident in their adoption plan, prior to signing the consents to the adoption.

What are the benefits of giving my baby up for adoption in MA?

There are many benefits of placing a baby for adoption.

Making an adoption plan can bring birth mothers peace of mind, knowing that their child is growing up in a safe, stable, and loving home. It also gives birth mothers the opportunity to work on their own lives and pursue both personal and professional dreams. Placing a baby for adoption in MA is completely free for expectant/birth mothers. In fact, the right adoption agency will provide financial support throughout the pregnancy and adoption process.

Adoption also has benefits for the child. Research shows that children who were adopted live in safe, non-violent, stable neighborhoods. By choosing adoption, you are not “giving up.” You are making a plan that puts your child’s needs and best interests first. Adoption, therefore, is a decision made with great love and thoughtfulness.

How can I find a family for my baby in MA?

You can find the right family to adopt your baby by working with a reliable and trustworthy adoption agency in Massachusetts. This professional should be fully licensed and have years of experience. The staff should be understanding of your needs and wishes for your baby. They will ask you questions, listen to what you are looking for in a family, and provide you with profiles of families hoping to adopt. They will help you find a family that is loving, stable, and ready to welcome a baby home.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, adoption agencies are required to complete safe and legal adoptions. This means the Home Study is a requirement.

This is the best way to pursue a successful adoption and find a safe, stable, and loving family for your baby. It is not safe to look for an adoptive family on the internet or social media such as Facebook or TikTok on your own. Always work with a licensed professional.

Why should I work with an adoption agency in Massachusetts?

For expectant/birth mothers considering adoption, it is never too late to call Adoptions With Love. We have close relationships with hospitals across Massachusetts and will have a social worker meet with you, even in the hospital. We can also meet you – wherever you are – to talk about your options and walk you through the adoption process in MA.

If needed, Adoptions With Love can help expectant/birth mothers with living and maternity-related expenses, such as rent, hospital bills, and legal fee coverage.

Who must consent to an adoption in Massachusetts?

The birth mother must consent to the adoption, terminating her/their parental rights and agreeing to the adoption. A birth father may have to consent, as well, depending on the circumstances. Birth fathers’ rights are typically handled on a case-by-case basis. It is best to discuss your situation with an adoption social worker and attorney to understand whether the birth father’s consent is needed for your child’s adoption.

Who oversees a home study in Massachusetts?

The adoption agency oversees the Home Study. This ensures that a child is placed with a family that is healthy enough – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially – to raise a child.

If you would like to learn more about our adoption services for birth mothers, please call us at 800-722-7731 or complete our online form here.

Are you hoping to adopt a baby in Massachusetts?

If you wish to grow your family through adoption, you will also want to turn to an experienced, professional and licensed adoption agency in Massachusetts. Agency fees for adoptive families cover all the services for the adoptive parents and expectant mothers, including legal services to ensure your adoption goes through correctly, and that your rights as adoptive parents are protected.

You may have come to the decision to adopt for any number of reasons. You and your spouse (or you may be single) may have experienced infertility or are not able to have biological children. Maybe you have been touched by adoption in your own life, or feel adoption is the ideal way to grow your family. No matter what, know DNA does not make a family – it is love. We understand how important this life-changing decision is to you and your family. We take the utmost care to match you with your child.

Who can adopt in Massachusetts?

To adopt in Massachusetts, prospective parent(s) must be at least 18 years old and residents of Massachusetts. Both married couples and singles can adopt a child in MA. With an open adoption agency in Massachusetts, expectant/birth parents may select the adoptive family to raise their baby. Our expert professionals will help to ensure each child is matched with the best, loving adoptive family.

What are the Massachusetts adoption requirements?

All hopeful adoptive families in Massachusetts must complete a series of background checks including FBI fingerprint clearances, local criminal background checks, sexual offender register checks, and reviews of abuse and neglect towards children. The state also requires that families complete a home study, conducted by a licensed social worker. This complete home study ensures that the family is fully ready and able to raise a child for the next 18+ years. It ensures they are financially stable, healthy, and can offer a loving, supportive, and secure environment for a child to grow. In addition to the home study interviews, 10 hours of education are required by the Commonwealth of MA.

Adoptions With Love personally conducts these home studies and gets to know each of our families before approving them for adoption. If you would like to read more about the adoption requirements in Massachusetts, please click here.

How will I be matched with a birth mother?

Adoptions With Love works with expectant/birth mothers in Massachusetts and across the country, but places children primarily with families that live in Massachusetts. This means there are many opportunities to match you with a baby.

When an expectant/birth mother contacts Adoptions With Love, she is given detailed profiles of hopeful adoptive parents. She can browse through these profiles, which share letters to the expectant/birth mom, background stories, photos, videos, and family stories. She can get an idea of the type of parents she would like to choose for her child. Your adoption professional can help you compile the perfect adoptive family profile once you begin your adoption journey.

After an expectant/birth mother chooses you, she may choose to speak with you on the phone or meet in person. This may happen months before birth, or it may be in the hospital after she has given birth. Your adoption professional can help guide you through this process every step of the way.

How much does adoption cost in Massachusetts?

Adoption fees will vary based on your state, as well as the adoption agency you choose.

There are two basic approaches that private adoption agencies will take with fees. Some organizations offer one flat fee to cover everything, while others offer an a-la-carte fee model, depending on the services needed. A flat fee is typically offered at full-service adoption agencies and covers all the services provided to your family as well as the expectant/birth mother.

Learn more about adoption fees in Massachusetts here.

Where Can You Find Adoption Support in Massachusetts?

If you are just starting the adoption process, the best place to turn is a full-service adoption agency with experience and an outstanding reputation in Massachusetts.

Whether you are looking to adopt or need to make an adoption plan for your baby, you can – and should – find the support you deserve throughout this journey. You should look for an agency that offers personalized and compassionate adoption services, and that is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way.

If you are a hopeful adoptive family, look for an adoption agency that can offer the following services:

Complete home study, which is required in Massachusetts
Comprehensive marketing and matching with expectant/birth parents
Full legal services, including termination of birth father’s rights
ICPC and adoption finalization services
Pre-adoptive educational seminars to prepare for your baby’s arrival
Post-adoption education and counseling for you and your child
Post-placement letter and picture program for years after the adoption

Whether you live in Newton, Cambridge, Boston, Worcester, or Western Massachusetts, you can find a Massachusetts adoption agency that can help you grow your family.

If you are an expectant/birth mother, look for an adoption agency in Massachusetts that can offer you supportive services, as well – all free of charge:

Financial assistance with rent, utilities, phone, food, maternity clothing, and other necessities, as needed.
Transportation
Counseling services, before and after birth
Assistance custom-designing an adoption plan that meets your needs
Medical care
Legal representation

Adoption is a complex, emotional journey. You can find a supportive adoption agency in Massachusetts that will help guide you along and make the process as smooth as possible.

Get Started with a Massachusetts Private Adoption Agency

Starting the adoption process can feel overwhelming, but working with a Massachusetts private adoption agency can provide the guidance and support you need to feel confident in your decision. A trusted agency will help you understand your options, create a personalized adoption plan, and connect you with adoptive families who align with your values and wishes. Whether you are still considering your options or ready to move forward, reaching out to an adoption agency is the first step toward making an informed and thoughtful decision for you and your baby.

Contact Adoptions With Love to learn more about adoption at 800-722-7731. You may also text us confidentially at 617-777-0072 or contact us online.