Adoption Agency
vs. Adoption Attorney
What’s the Difference?
Adoption Agency vs. Adoption Attorney:
What’s the Difference?
One of the first questions that women considering placing their baby for adoption ask is: “what’s the difference between working with an adoption agency and an adoption attorney?” That’s a great question. Understanding the differences between working with an adoption agency and an adoption attorney will help you make the best decision about how to move forward with making a personalized adoption plan for your baby. Let’s break it down and look at the four main differences between the two different adoption service providers.
Four Main Differences Between an Adoption Agency and Adoption Attorney
Expectant Birth Mother Autonomy:
Adoption agencies usually require an expectant birth mother to follow a rather strict set of rules and routines. For example, some adoption agencies require that an agency employee escort the expectant mother to each of her prenatal appointments. Other adoption agencies require that the expectant mother live in a certain place during her pregnancy or follow a particular schedule that may clash with her ability to work or attend classes.
Adoption attorneys tend to provide an expectant birth mother with MUCH more autonomy, allowing the expectant mother to lead her own life and make the choices she feels are best for her and her baby. They also provide recommendations and resources and birth mother support and financial assistance, as permissible by Florida law.
Confidentiality + Legal Advice:
Both adoption agencies and adoption attorneys are ethically bound to provide confidential services to each pregnant mother that walks through their door. However, adoption attorneys may provide more sound and consistent legal advice than adoption agencies. The reason being is that adoption agencies usually require an outside attorney. Adoption attorneys, however, already know and understand the legal intricacies surrounding adoption, whether choosing adoption for an unborn baby or placing a newborn baby for adoption. This means that they are more readily available to help with that aspect of the adoption process.
Expectant Mother Service and Support:
Most of the adoption agencies in Florida are quite large, and therefore need to employ less experienced caseworkers and staff. At a large adoption agency, it’s not uncommon for a caseworker to be working with multiple expectant birth mothers at the same time. They may also have restricted decision-making privileges, since they’re lower in the organization’s hierarchy. Birth mothers who have worked with large adoption agencies have also said that it took multiple days for their agency contact to get back with them regarding important services. This may include approval for financial assistance or simply receiving access to things like counseling and support.
Many birth mothers find that adoption attorneys are easy to work with and very responsive to their needs. Most adoption attorneys work directly with the expectant birth mother, so they are more able to respond to needs and concerns in real-time. Adoption attorneys also work with a much smaller roster of expectant birth mothers and provide a more warm, personalized experience, along with better legal expertise.
Choosing the Right Adoptive Family:
Adoption attorneys tend to cast the broadest net possible when trying to help an expectant birth mother find the perfect waiting adoptive family for their baby. They utilize nationwide networks and can accommodate a more extensive array of personal preferences regarding the adoptive family. In contrast, adoption agencies often limit an expectant birth mother’s options to the waiting adoptive families that are currently on their list. The reason for this is that hopeful adoptive families pay large upfront fees to the adoption agency, and therefore, the agency may feel pressured to reduce their overall waiting time. To make an informed decision for you and your baby, please call us anytime at (877) 777-5070.
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