Can my friend adopt my baby?
In most states, the answer is yes. Throughout the adoption process, you are in control. You decide what is best for you and your baby. If you think your friend will be the best parent for your child, you can opt to do an independent or private adoption.
Independent adoption involves a direct placement between a birthmother and the adoptive family of her choosing. In an independent adoption, you work with an adoption attorney to facilitate the legal aspects of the adoption.
Even though you are not required to work with an adoption agency for independent adoptions, an agency has valuable services that can enhance and support your adoption process.
In this article, we will consider how adopting a friend’s baby works as well as things you should consider before choosing adoptive parents for your baby.
Questions to Consider When a Friend is Adoption Your Baby
You no doubt want the best for your baby. Placing your baby for adoption is a courageous decision!
If you’ve decided to place your baby for adoption and your friend wants to adopt, it may even sound like the perfect scenario. However, it’s important to make sure your friend is the best option for your baby.
Here are some things you should consider before making a final decision:
How do you know this is the perfect family for your baby?
How well do you know the adoptive family? Many birth mothers feel more comfortable placing their baby with someone they know. However, in an independent adoption, the adoptive parents typically don’t complete the same screening process as adoptive families who have gone through an agency.
For example, to adopt, a family must complete a home study. The home study is a complete background check, including a strict home interview of the family. When you do an independent adoption with a friend, they may not be required to complete a home study.
Additionally, how do you know your friend is the best option for your baby? Make sure you are not choosing your friend as the adoptive parent for your baby just because s/he seems like an easy or convenient choice. Moreover, you shouldn’t feel pressured to choose your friend either.
In the end, you want to choose the best home for your little one. Perhaps the perfect home is with your friend. However, take the time to think about where you want your baby to go.
Are you prepared to see your friend raise your baby?
Because your friend is adopting your baby, you might see them together on a regular basis after the adoption is completed. For some, this situation can present a few concerns.
First, your relationship with your friend can change. Instead of being just friends, the two of you are now connected to your baby in a unique way. The relationship between a birth mother and an adoptive parent can feel different. There may be new boundaries in your relationship or perhaps a change in your friendship. This may be especially difficult if you see your friend on a regular basis.
Second, you have to respect your friend’s parenting style and decisions. This isn’t always easy, especially when you often see your friend and your biological baby together. However, when you give up your parental rights, your friend is the only one who can make those parenting decisions.
Are you getting the services you need during the adoption process?
As a pregnant woman choosing adoption, you are entitled to many services. For example, adoptive parents are obligated to help with any expenses related to your pregnancy. These include medical expenses, housing, transportation, counseling, and more.
However, it can be hard to ask a friend for financial assistance. In the end, though, it’s important you receive everything you need during your pregnancy.
How Can an Adoption Agency Help?
Adoption agencies can help provide you with all the support you need during your pregnancy and after you deliver.
In the end, you decide who will adopt your baby. If you believe your friend will be the best parent, an adoption agency can help. Similarly, if you decide to choose a different family to adopt your baby, adoption agencies have many families for you to choose from.
Here at Texas Adoption Center, we can create a customized adoption plan to suit your needs. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the services we can help you with.
Emotional Support
Even if you trust your friend with everything, trusting them to raise your child is a big step. It’s important to take the time to truly think through this important decision.
An adoption agency can offer you the emotional support you need while going through the adoption process, listening to and calming your fears and providing you with resources. Texas Adoption Center wants to be your rock and your confidant. We can walk alongside you and provide you with adoption-related counseling, education, and referrals to specialists for the rest of your life.
Financial Support
We make the adoption as smooth as possible for you. If finances are an issue, we will take a look to see how we can help. The law limits the ways we can support you financially. But, in the past, we’ve helped birth mothers with utilities, groceries, phone bills, laundry, and personal care items.
Housing and Transportation
We want to make sure you have a safe, stable living arrangement. If your current arrangement is not safe or stable, we can assist you with housing. Also, we can help you prioritize you and your baby’s health. To do this, we make sure you have transportation to appointments and pregnancy-related errands, providing you with rides, a bus pass, or gas money to make sure you have transportation
Medical Care and Health Insurance
We want you to have excellent medical care. Furthermore, Texas Adoption Center can help you find a doctor or get set up with a quality health insurance plan. We want you and your baby to be happy and healthy.
Learn More About the Adoption Process
Choosing a home for your baby is a huge decision. But you do not have to do it alone. Whether it’s with a friend, family member, or another amazing family—your baby can be a part of a loving, stable home.
Texas Adoption Center’s specialists know just what you need. We can help you make this important decision and support you through the entire adoption process. Call us today at 844-893-7943.
