How would this work?

517butterfly

We got a call from friends of ours in Maryland this week (we are in NC).  She teaches at a boarding school and one of her students is 14 and currently 22 weeks pregnant.  She wants to give the baby up for adoption and wants to know that the child is going to a good home.  So they called us to see if we would be interested.  The student wants the process to be as uncomplicated as possible and wants a closed adoption so that she can "move on" (her words).  In a case like this, if we decided to pursue, where would you even begin?  I contacted our caseworker at our agency but of course she's off today.  Would this just need to go through a lawyer?  Our agency?  We're not completely on board to pursue but curious.

Dr.Loretta

My first instinct would be to start with your agency for guidance. Ours has an identified adoption program, and I think this would fall into that category.

Sunny1s

Your agency should be able to help you out but you will likely need a lawyer located in the birthmothers state to get the adoption finalized.  You may also need one in your state to complete your guardianship when you bring the child home.  There can be a lot of paperwork with the interstate compact so you'll want to make sure you retain a lawyer who specializes in adoption.

I also know from our discussions that at times states may require you to live there for a bit while the paperwork is being passed around - up to a couple weeks. 

At the end of the day - it's a lot of legal work and you'll want to make sure you understand both how MD will treat it and your home state. 

Hope that helps at least a bit!  I know some of the books I've read had handy charts that listed each state's requirements.

hersheykiss

You could do it one of two ways.

1. She can contact your agency and go through their process and try and see if she can say she wants to have you two as the parents. The agency may allow for that, depending on the agency you are using.

2. You can hire a family lawyer who specializes in adoptions and go through the process that way.

Temp206787500007404

Ditto pp -- this is most likely what we will end up doing.

Find a lawyer (it may need to be the BM state -- but could be yours, you would need to be advised of that). 

The basic process is that she would sign relinquishment papers as allowed by the law (some allow signing before birth, some after, sometimes they can sign before but it isn't enforceable until a certain period after).  If she knows who the father is, he would have to be identified and relinquish as well.  Then based on state law, you would you have custody of the baby for a certain period of time while her rights are terminated and then your adoption would be finalized.

If she is requested financial or medical assistance, you will need to see what the law in her state allows.  Where I live, it all has to be approved by the court before any money can change hands.  I would also ask the lawyer to recommend a therapist for her, so if she wants/needs it she can utilize that resource.  If she doesn't have insurance to cover it or there isn't a program available to her at no cost to her, I would offer to pay for it.

Jas*sGirl

The girls here have given you a ton of great information.  We went this route and did a private adoption and loved it.  I will tell you its a lot of paperwork and you have to do a lot of the reading on your own, but in the end it is worth it.  Your first task should be to contact a lawyer in your state and ask some questions.  Even if you just tell them the situation and ask them to direct you from there you should be good.  I did a quick search and found the laws for Maryland.  It does look like private/independent adoptions are legal in that state of MD and that a non resident can adopt as long as the BioM is a MD resident and the child is born in MD.  Only Legal fees and medical expenses can be paid by the adopting party.  A BioM can not sign a consent of termination prior to birth but there is no wait time after birth, and the forms can be signed outside of a court room.  A BioP has 30 days to revoke the termination form. The adoption can be finalized after that 30 day period.  It looks like you can take the child home from the hospital as long as you have temporary custody, which is something that the courts of MD will have to give you.  Good luck to you!!!!

Jas*sGirl

Also you will most likely have to have a home study...which you may already have done since it sounds like you are with an agency.  Along with FBI clearance.