If you are considering placing your child for adoption, call or text Sheri A. Mullikin, Maryland and D.C. Adoption Attorney for a Free Consultation: (240) 394-9544
Are You Considering an Adoption Plan for Your Baby?
"Adoption is not a breaking of trust but a keeping of faith ... not the abandonment of a baby but an abandonment of self for baby's sake." Source: Curtis Young.
If you are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and thinking about placing your child with another family to raise as their own, you are probably feeling a whole host of emotions and uncertainty as to your future and that of your unborn child. You do not have to face this alone. Adoption is one of several options you have. Sheri can help you evaluate each of your options, including adoption, to help you decide what is best for you and your baby. If you choose adoption, Sheri will work with you to help you make an adoption plan that will be uniquely yours and will explain your legal rights to you, which may include the right to reimbursement for adoption counseling, legal representation, medical expenses related to the pregnancy and birth, and living and transportation expenses. Sheri will also do everything possible to ensure that your rights are protected, including your right to a post-adoption contact agreement with the prospective adoptive parents, entitling you to continuing contact with them and your child after the adoption is finalized.
Adoption options: Private Adoption versus Agency Adoption
In Maryland and D.C., there are two different types of adoption that you can choose -- an independent adoption (also known as a private adoption) or an adoption through an adoption agency. Many birth families choose private or independent adoptions, which will give you the most control in choosing an adoptive family for your child, as well as direct contact with the adoptive parents.
Independent or private adoption Process
Many expectant moms today like the control and flexibility an independent or private adoption plan gives them. Instead of relying on an intermediary, an adoption agency, to "match" you with a hopeful adoptive family and to be a go-between you and the hopeful parents, an independent adoption will put you in control. You will work directly with your attorney, paid for by the adoptive family, and the adoptive family to work out the details of your adoption plan. You are able to locate an adoptive family yourself or with Sheri's help, instead of using an adoption agency to do so. Although Maryland law prohibits attorneys from locating an adoptive family for you or making a "match," Sheri is able to guide you through the process of how to locate the right family for you, through online photolistings (Adoptimist, Parent Finder, and Pair Tree) social media (Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram), and other resources. Sheri can also provide you with suggestions on how to screen potential adoptive families.
Sheri will meet with you to gain a better understanding of your concerns and desires. Some of the decisions you will need to make include whether to involve the adoptive family in your pregnancy and the birth. It can be as much or as little as you want. Sheri will work with you, the attorney for the adoptive parents, and your medical providers to ensure that your wishes are carried out. You will also have an opportunity to receive counseling from an adoption counselor to help you make sure that adoption is the right choice for you, to discuss your birth plan, and to support you through the process and beyond. After the birth, you can choose to have the hospital discharge your child directly to the adoptive parents and for the adoptive parents to have temporary custody while the adoption is being finalized. Additionally, you must decide what, if any, type of contact you would like to have with the child after the adoption. Any agreement you make regarding post-adoption contact is legally enforceable in Maryland and D.C. as long as it remains in the child's best interests to enforce it. You can also choose to keep your personal information confidential from the adoptive family. Whatever you decide, Sheri will help you complete an adoption plan and will work with your medical providers and the attorney for the adoptive family to ensure that you understand your rights and that your interests and wishes are protected.
Sheri will meet with you to gain a better understanding of your concerns and desires. Some of the decisions you will need to make include whether to involve the adoptive family in your pregnancy and the birth. It can be as much or as little as you want. Sheri will work with you, the attorney for the adoptive parents, and your medical providers to ensure that your wishes are carried out. You will also have an opportunity to receive counseling from an adoption counselor to help you make sure that adoption is the right choice for you, to discuss your birth plan, and to support you through the process and beyond. After the birth, you can choose to have the hospital discharge your child directly to the adoptive parents and for the adoptive parents to have temporary custody while the adoption is being finalized. Additionally, you must decide what, if any, type of contact you would like to have with the child after the adoption. Any agreement you make regarding post-adoption contact is legally enforceable in Maryland and D.C. as long as it remains in the child's best interests to enforce it. You can also choose to keep your personal information confidential from the adoptive family. Whatever you decide, Sheri will help you complete an adoption plan and will work with your medical providers and the attorney for the adoptive family to ensure that you understand your rights and that your interests and wishes are protected.
Adoption Agency Process
If a private or independent adoption isn't right for you, you can allow a private adoption agency or even the state (through a public adoption agency) to place your child with an adoptive family. If you choose to use a private agency, Sheri can identify reputable, licensed adoption agencies and help you weigh your options. Private adoption agencies usually offer counseling to birth families both before and after the birth. Most agencies will provide information on a group of potential adoptive families via profiles that contain pictures and other information about the family. In most cases, you can choose whether to meet with the adoptive family and get to know them before you make a decision. Agencies screen potential adoptive families through an application and home study process to help facilitate a good match between the birth parents and adoptive families, and to ensure that your child will be placed in a safe home. As part of this screening process, however, some adoption agencies may refuse to work with adoptive families and/or birth families that do not meet certain requirements such as age, financial status, medical history, or religious background. Some of these criteria are determined by the state, but some may be set by the agency. Sheri will help point you to an agency that will best meet your needs, whether it be counseling or even a desire to place your child with a certain type of adoptive family. For example, if you would prefer that your child be placed with a family from a certain religious or ethnic background, Sheri will help you identify adoption agencies that will work with you to fulfill this desire.
Financial Assistance and Other Help if you Choose to Parent or Place your child for adoption
Whether you decide to parent your child or place the child for adoption, there are financial and other resources available to help you if you are struggling to make ends meet. Sheri supports a local pregnancy center that can provide you with assistance and support if you choose to parent your child. On the other hand, if you decide to place your child for adoption, the prospective adoptive parents are legally able to help you with some expenses, depending on where the adoption is finalized.
If either you or the adoptive family resides in Maryland, Maryland adoption law permits an expectant mom making an adoption plan to receive assistance with the following types of adoption expenses:
1. expenses for maternity clothes, food, and housing, as long as your doctor certifies that you are unable to work or otherwise support yourself because of the pregnancy or birth;
2. legal expenses;
3. adoption counseling;
4. medical expenses related to the pregnancy or birth;
5. transportation expenses for medical care related to the pregnancy or birth; and
6. expenses associated with any required court appearance related to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging.
If you are the adoptive parents are from D.C., adoptive parents can legally assist you with your legal expenses, adoption counseling, and medical bills related to the birth .
If the adoption is an interstate adoption, meaning that you and adoptive parents are from different states, it is possible that other state laws could apply to provide more or less financial or other assistance. As your attorney, Sheri will help you assess your needs and will do everything in her power to get you the help you need to complete your adoption plan.
If either you or the adoptive family resides in Maryland, Maryland adoption law permits an expectant mom making an adoption plan to receive assistance with the following types of adoption expenses:
1. expenses for maternity clothes, food, and housing, as long as your doctor certifies that you are unable to work or otherwise support yourself because of the pregnancy or birth;
2. legal expenses;
3. adoption counseling;
4. medical expenses related to the pregnancy or birth;
5. transportation expenses for medical care related to the pregnancy or birth; and
6. expenses associated with any required court appearance related to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging.
If you are the adoptive parents are from D.C., adoptive parents can legally assist you with your legal expenses, adoption counseling, and medical bills related to the birth .
If the adoption is an interstate adoption, meaning that you and adoptive parents are from different states, it is possible that other state laws could apply to provide more or less financial or other assistance. As your attorney, Sheri will help you assess your needs and will do everything in her power to get you the help you need to complete your adoption plan.
Consenting to an Adoption: What if I change my mind?
After the child is born, either the birth mother's attorney (if it is a private adoption) or the adoption agency will obtain the consent of the birth parents to terminate their parental rights.
In Maryland, birth parents have 30 days to change their mind after they sign the papers agreeing to the adoption. Those papers will not be signed until after your baby is born.
In D.C., if you place your child for adoption through a licensed adoption agency, you have 14 days to change your mind after you sign a consent to the adoption; however, if you are pursing a private adoption, you cannot change your mind as long as your written consent to the adoption was voluntary. You cannot sign anything until after your baby is born.
In Maryland, birth parents have 30 days to change their mind after they sign the papers agreeing to the adoption. Those papers will not be signed until after your baby is born.
In D.C., if you place your child for adoption through a licensed adoption agency, you have 14 days to change your mind after you sign a consent to the adoption; however, if you are pursing a private adoption, you cannot change your mind as long as your written consent to the adoption was voluntary. You cannot sign anything until after your baby is born.
What About the Father?
In some cases, the child's father may be unwilling to consent or you may not know who he is. If a he will not sign a consent, the adoption agency or private adoption attorney will serve him with a notice giving him an opportunity to object to the adoption plan. In Maryland, if he fails to file a timely objection within 30-90 days depending on where he is served, he will have consented and the adoption can move forward. In D.C., he will have to appear at a hearing or file an opposition with the Court if he objects to the adoption. Even if he objects, it may still be possible to proceed with the adoption in limited circumstances. The court's determination will be based on the best interests of the child.
If the identity or whereabouts of a father are truly unknown, the adoption agency or private adoption attorney may be permitted to publish a legal notice of the proceeding in a newspaper and post it online or through the court. Assuming no objection is filed within the time permitted, the adoption will proceed.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, please contact Sheri at her pregnancy hotline to explore your options. There is no cost involved and someone is available 24 hours a day to talk with you.
If the identity or whereabouts of a father are truly unknown, the adoption agency or private adoption attorney may be permitted to publish a legal notice of the proceeding in a newspaper and post it online or through the court. Assuming no objection is filed within the time permitted, the adoption will proceed.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, please contact Sheri at her pregnancy hotline to explore your options. There is no cost involved and someone is available 24 hours a day to talk with you.
"Be OK with not knowing for sure what comes next but know that whatever it is You will be OK." Source: Unknown.
Hopeful adoptive families
Sheri is currently working with the following families that are hoping to expand their families through adoption. Please click on their names to be taken to their profiles or websites for more information. Their contact information, if you want to reach out to them, will be available on the link.
Jason and Katie Jim and DeAnn
Johnny and Liberty
Jason and Katie Jim and DeAnn
Johnny and Liberty
Proudly serving expectant mothers throughout central Maryland and Washington, D.C., including the following counties: Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington Counties.