• Adoption in Washington, D.C. [The Complete Guide]

    ADOPTIVE FAMILY SERVICES

    Adoption in Washington, D.C.  [The Complete Guide]

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That first step of adoption in Washington, D.C., is often the hardest. Fortunately, this overview of the Washington, D.C., adoption process will make reaching out and requesting a consultation with us a little easier.
Here’s what you need to know about Washington, D.C. adoption.


Whether you hope to adopt a child, or you’re pregnant and need to place your baby for adoption in the District of Columbia,

your process of adoption in Washington, D.C., will be as unique as the people involved in your journey.



Here's the Washington, D.C., Adoption Process in 6 Core Steps that birth and adoptive parents will typically experience:

  • Choose adoption.

    This may sound simple, and for some pregnant women and hopeful parents, it is a simple choice. For others, it requires more thought and reflection. Adoption isn’t the right path for everyone, but could it be right for you?


    If you’re not sure or you’d like to learn a bit more about adoption in DC, book your consultation now

  • Choose an adoption professional.

    The type of Washington, D.C., adoption hopeful adoptive parents choose determines what the rest of the process is like. It also determines the type of adoption professional they’ll need.


    Adoptive parents must choose between:

    After choosing a type of adoption, adoptive parents will likely want to reach out to a corresponding professional. Similarly, pregnant women who need to find adoptive parents for their child may wish to reach out to an agency. We can refer you to trusted professionals in the Washington, D.C., area upon request.


    No matter what type of adoption you’re pursuing or whether you’re a birth or adoptive parent, you must always work with a licensed and experienced Washington, D.C. adoption attorney.  DC adoption lawyers are responsible for completing the complicated legalities of adoption correctly. This is the most important thing you can do to protect everyone involved in your adoption process.

  • Create your adoption plan.

    Next, prospective birth and adoptive parents must consider the kind of adoption they wish to have. Pregnant women must consider the type of adoptive parents they want for their child, how open they’d like their adoption to be and more. Adoptive families will need to think about the types of adoption situations they're open to accepting.


    Regardless of your individual preferences, we’ll protect your rights and help you create an adoption plan with which you feel comfortable.

  • Find an adoption opportunity.

    Finding that unique connection between prospective birth and adoptive families is a beautiful feeling. The path to that moment will look different, depending on the type of adoption (and the type of professional) you choose.


    Prospective birth and adoptive parents who are pursuing private agency or independent adoption will view profiles and search for the right “match.” Meanwhile, adoptive parents who are pursuing international or public agency (foster care) adoption will receive a referral to a child who is waiting to be adopted through the agency.


    Regardless of how you find your perfect Washington, D.C., adoption match, we’ll guide you through the legal processes and protect those involved.

  • Complete placement.

    This is a highly anticipated moment for prospective birth and adoptive parents alike. The placement of a child into his or her permanent family is an emotional experience for everyone involved.  We'll handle all the legalities and support you in this life-changing moment.

  • Complete finalization and begin post-adoption life.

    The last step in the legal process of adoption in Washington, D.C., is finalization.  This marks the moment a child becomes an official, legal, permanent part of his or her new family. Thoroughness, expertise and attention to detail are incredibly important at every stage of the adoption process but especially here. We have the experience and skill to guide you through finalization safely and smoothly.

3 of the Most Common Questions About Adopting a Child in Washington, D.C.

We know that learning how to adopt in Washington, D.C., can leave you with plenty of questions. We’re always here to offer guidance, legal assistance and answers your questions. 



For now, we’ll start with answering 3 common questions we hear from hopeful adoptive parents in the DC area:

“What are the requirements to adopt a child in Washington, D.C.?”

Although the type of adoption (and the adoption professional) you choose will have varying sets of requirements for hopeful parents, there are a few common Washington, D.C., adoption requirements you’ll likely have to meet:

  • Complete a home study with a Washington, D.C.-licensed provider
  • Undergo thorough screenings and background checks
  • Meet some common requirements regarding your age, health & financial stability + more

“Is it legal to advertise that you’re looking to adopt in Washington, D.C.?”

Yes. We’ll help you navigate the Washington, D.C., adoption advertising laws so you can find the right match in less time.

“How can we find an adoption opportunity in Washington, D.C.?”

Many adoptive parents will solicit the assistance of an adoption agency in Washington, D.C., for help finding a pregnant woman considering adoption. As Washington, D.C., adoption attorneys, we’re unable to match pregnant women and hopeful parents ourselves. However, we can refer you to this type of professional if you’d like help finding the right adoption opportunity. We can also advise you on safely finding an adoption opportunity on your own.

3 of the Most Common Questions About Placing a Baby for Adoption in Washington, D.C.

Pregnant women considering adoption for their child will also have a lot of questions! You may feel a little overwhelmed by all the information out there and you may not know where to start.


Remember that you can request a consultation now, and we will speak with you about creating an adoption plan for your baby. In the meantime, we’ll start by answering a few of the most common questions we hear from pregnant women considering adoption in DC:


“What are the requirements to place a baby for adoption in Washington, D.C.?”

The only requirement is that you must place your baby through a licensed adoption professional, like us or a DC adoption agency. Contact us now if you need to get more information on placing your baby for adoption in Washington, D.C. We’ll talk you through the rest.

“When and how can a birth parent consent to an adoption in Washington, D.C.?”

DC adoption laws state that in private domestic infant adoption, the placing parent’s consent must be acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, a representative of a child-placing agency or the mayor. We’ll help you learn more about consenting to adoption in Washington, D.C., and talk you through the process if you’re ready to move forward.

“If I place my baby for adoption, will I have a say in anything?”

Today, birth parents control most of the adoption process in DC, including but not limited to:



  • Choosing the adoptive parents for the baby
  • Deciding how much post-adoption openness they feel comfortable sharing and much more


If you’re ready to take the first step in your Washington, D.C., adoption process or you'd like more information, Request your consultation now.