Are there adoption risks?

No form of adoption is without risks. It will be up to you to determine the risks that are acceptable and those that are not. The most risky adoption is the one you attempt to manage on your own. To be successful at adoption, you need both professional and legal assistance, and Love and Hope brings you both.

In a word, yes. But this fear has been unnecessarily exagerated by the media in spite of facts to the contrary. Studies have shown that Birthmother commitment to the adoption process is about 85% when a professional agency, like Love and Hope, is involved. Even when a Birthmother does change her mind, an agency is able to respond quickly to the lost opportunity because it has additional adoption possibilities available.

No. Once the adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents enjoy full legal custody of the child. During pregnancy, Birthmothers may indeed flip-flop on the decision to place their child for adoption. Through Love and Hope's professional counseling services, you are insulated from this very emotional roller-coaster ride while your adoption counselor works toward the very best interests of the child.

Once the baby is born, the Birthmother has, depending on state law, 24-72 hours before she is allowed to sign the relinquishment documents, after which, the child is turned over to the agency and the adoptive parents. Birth parents have 3-30 days to "revoke" their decision, something which happens in less than 15% of adoptions.

Adoption finalization in court usually occurs within 3-6 months after the birth of the child and is contingent upon the completion of the Post-Placement Assessment. Once the court certifies the adoption, the child is legally yours and nothing can be done to change that fact. Click next to find out more possible adoption scams.