Taking steps on a journey of trust: How to give a baby up for adoption
If you’ve recently learned of your unplanned pregnancy, you may need time to deal with your emotions and decide whether you want to raise your child. However, some women already know that they are not ready to become parents. The compassionate counselors at Legacy Adoption Services can help you work through all your questions and explain how to give a baby up for adoption.
Don’t let anyone pressure you into making this life-changing decision. We provide resources and programs that help you reach the decision that is right for you and your child. You may decide to raise your child or learn how to give a baby up for adoption.
Steps toward adoption
If you make the painful but loving decision to give your baby to a family that longs for a child, then our experienced staff will walk you through the process step by step.
- Identify a licensed adoption agency, such as Legacy Adoption Services, to handle the legal requirements for adoption. An attorney will handle all the adoption paperwork, including filing documents that may include an adoption order or an affidavit terminating parental rights. A licensed agency provides counseling and resources throughout the pregnancy and protects your rights after the adoption has taken place.
- Decide whether you want an open or closed adoption plan. Do you want ongoing communication or updates from the adoptive family, and if so, how frequently? It’s your choice.
- Will the father be involved? Some supportive birth fathers want to be involved in counseling at Legacy Adoption Services during the pregnancy. But what if you do not know who the father is or he is no longer involved in your life? You can decide whether you want to share this information with him, but you are not obligated to do so unless you are married. However, he does have rights, and it will be easier if he signs an affidavit disclaiming any interest in the child and revokes his intent to claim paternity – without formally indicating whether he is or is not the father. At Legacy Adoption Services, each case is staffed with our Attorney to ensure that all legal aspects are done in accordance with Texas Family Code.
- Choose adoptive parents. This could be the most exciting part of the adoption process. All candidates have undergone thorough screening — home visits; questionnaires; referrals; and financial, professional and criminal background checks. You can provide criteria for potential adoptive parents, and we will provide individuals and families for your review.
- After the baby is born. By law, birth moms cannot officially relinquish their parental rights until 48 hours after the birth. If you are married, the birth father also has to wait 48 hours to relinquish his parental rights. The experienced counselors at Legacy Adoption Services can help you handle arrangements with birth fathers, if needed.
If you’d like more information about how to give a baby up for adoption, contact our team of caring social workers at 817-899-5000.
