Considering adoption? Contemplating placing your child with an adoptive family? Interested in becoming a foster parent?

We hope the answers to some frequently asked questions help potential
clients move forward with confidence and a better understanding of adoption and foster care.

Private Adoption

In New York, private attorneys are not permitted to match clients with birth mothers. Your attorney, however, may assist you in building your profile, creating an advertising campaign, providing networking tips, and navigating the process of connecting with potential birth mothers.
Most private adoptions range from between $20,000 and $35,000. The fees are determined based on lawyers fees, reasonable expenses for birth parents, and travel costs. The fees for adoption vary depending on the applicable laws in each state.
Every adoption journey is different. Some adoptive parents match with a birth parent within weeks of launching their advertising campaign. Other adoptive parents may wait a year or more before connecting with a potential birth mother. All adoptive parents deserve personalized, unconditional support of a competent legal team throughout the process from the initial consultation through finalization.

Birth Parents

In a private adoption, birth parents may choose the adoptive parents for their child. Private adoption allows for birth parents to search the internet, speak to friends and family, reach out to their community members including their doctors, teachers, counselors, or religious leaders to help select the adoptive family that is the perfect fit. In contrast, birth parents placing their child for adoption through an adoption agency have limited choices of profiles to choose from when selecting the adoptive family for their child. With private adoption, birth parents have the power and control to make choices independently.
No. All legal fees for birth parents are paid in full by adoptive parents.
It depends. Some states have revocation periods during which birth parents may revoke their consent to adoption after signing legal documents. Revocation periods may range from 3 days to 45 days. In other states, consents are irrevocable at the time of signing.

Foster Parents

Potential foster parents are required to complete an application, an orientation, a 30 hour training, and must have a home study conducted through the local agency, as well as background checks, and medical clearances. Those interested in becoming foster parents may contact the WISH Line at 212-676-WISH in New York City or 1-800-345-KIDS in New York State.
Every foster placement is unique. Some children are placed in respite foster care for short periods of time before being reunified with their families. Other foster placements may be long-term which may lead to children being freed for adoption after years in a foster home or multiple foster homes. Every foster parent is entitled to work with a team of social workers, case workers, and lawyers to help navigate their role as a foster parent. Although the rights of foster parents are limited, they are, indeed, the unsung heroes of a child welfare system. Foster parents provide thousands of children living in New York with stable, safe loving homes in times of need.
Fostering a child requires no financial commitment from foster parents. In fact, every child in the foster care system receives a daily stipend. In addition, lawyers fees for foster care adoptions are paid for through city or state funding and are at no cost to the foster adoptive parents.

Stepparent Adoption, Second Parent Adoption, and Adult Adoption

It depends. Stepparent and second parent adoptions require criminal and abuse and neglect clearances, a home study, and often the consent of a non-participating birth parent-- these requirements take time. The preparation, processing, and finalization of stepparent and second parent adoptions vary depending on the timing of completing requirements and on the court's calendar. Typically, stepparent and second parent adoptions take between three and six months from the filing date.
Yes. The adoptive parent will be listed as a legal parent on the post-adoptive birth certificate.
No. Birth parents are not required to be noticed of an adult adoption or to consent to an adult adoption.