Domestic Independent/Private Adoption

A private adoption begins when the prospective adopting parents and birth parents locate one another, usually through newspaper or internet advertisements or introductions by mutual friends, relatives or acquaintances. Jennifer can guide clients through these options and the safest and most successful avenues to locate a birth family.

Once the parties locate one another, they begin working together to resolve issues that arise through the adoption process. They may enter into what is referred to as an “adoption plan.” This negotiation may be made directly by the parties or through their attorneys. The adoption can be completely "open," whereby the parties exchange identifying information, or "closed" whereby the parties' identifying information remains completely confidential.

Once adopting parents have located a birth parent who wishes to place their child for adoption and the child is born, the adopting parents file a Petition in the appropriate court. Each county has different local rules related to the adoption and the process, while similar, has nuances. As such, hiring an adoption attorney is important to a smooth completion of the adoption.

Jennifer will assist in negotiating a birth plan and post-adoption contact agreement, if desired. And, if the child is born outside of Maryland or the District of Columbia, she will assist with obtaining approval from the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children (ICPC) and, if part of the adoption plan, in finalizing the adoption in the state of Maryland or the District of Columbia

Step-Parent Adoption

Adult Adoption

GLBT/ Second Parent Adoption

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