Your Adoption FAQ

Answers to Parental Placement Adoption Questions

1.  What is a parental placement adoption?

              A parental placement adoption is when the birth mother places her child directly with the adoptive parents.  An adoption agency does not take legal or physical custody of the child.

2.  Do adoptive parents still need a home study?

              Any adoptive parent, single parent or married couple, must undergo an adoption home study by a licensed child placing agency within Virginia.  The home study must be completed prior to the birth mother appearing in court to consent to the adoption of her child.

3.  Is a parental placement adoption an open adoption?

              One of the benefits of parental placement adoption is that birth parents and adoptive parents may meet one another informally prior to the child being placed for adoption. They also have the option of contact after the adoption, if all parties agree to being contacted, whether by email, phone calls, letters or face-to-face visits.  Every situation is different and plans are made to meet each individual situation.

4.  Is it necessary to retain an adoption attorney in a parental placement adoption?

              Yes.  If yours is a newborn adoption, you absolutely must have a knowledgeable adoption attorney to legally arrange for you to take physical custody of the baby at the hospital.  For any age child, your attorney will represent you at the birth mother’s consent hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations court.  Typically the child is assigned an attorney, Guardian Ad Litem, by the court to objectively represent the child’s best interest. 

5.  For an infant adoption, where does the baby go upon discharge from the hospital?

              A newborn baby who is being placed for adoption by the birth mother may be released from the hospital directly into the care of the adoptive parents. Your adoption attorney will make the necessary legal arrangements with the hospital after the birth of the child.

6.  Is the birth father involved in the adoption plan?

              Every effort is made to identify and contact the birth father.  He is offered counseling services by an adoption social worker, just as the birth mother is.  He may also choose to participate in meeting the adoptive parents.  The birth father must also consent to the adoption proceeding.  Your adoption attorney will explain how that legal requirement is satisfied.

7.  What are the advantages to parental placement adoption?

              The openness between adoptive parents and birth parents establishes a better experience for everyone involved and lends itself to sharing background information that is so vital to the adoptive child in years to come. The fact that the birth mother and adoptive parents made their connection without the assistance of an adoption agency eliminates the adoption placement fee typically incurred in a traditional domestic adoption.

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