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What are the main paths to adoption in North Carolina?

On Behalf of | Feb 3, 2025 | Adoption

Adoption is a way to build or expand your family legally. It’s a wonderful thing—to give a child a loving, permanent home and become a parent. In North Carolina, you don’t have to foster before adopting. This is a common misconception.

Different adoption processes exist. You can choose the pathway that works best for you. Here are three main paths to adoption.

Private/independent adoption 

Private adoption lets you work directly with birth parents, often through an intermediary like an attorney or adoption facilitator. This process gives you more control over the adoption journey but requires you to really follow all legal requirements. You must complete a home study, obtain consent from the birth parents and file the necessary paperwork with the court.

While this path can sometimes be quicker than others, it involves many legal complexities. Pay close attention to all legal aspects.

Agency adoption 

Working with a licensed adoption agency can provide a structured and supportive path to adoption. Agencies offer services such as matching you with a child, conducting home studies and providing counseling for both adoptive and birth parents. They handle much of the paperwork and legal processes, which can be reassuring for many families. In North Carolina, you can choose between private agencies or the state’s public agency, the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Adopting through the DSS is an option for those interested in adopting children in the foster care system. This path can be less expensive than private adoption and often focuses on placements for older children, sibling groups or children with special needs.

International adoption 

International adoption might be for you if you want to adopt a child from another country. This process involves not only North Carolina state laws but also federal immigration laws and the laws of the child’s home country. You must work with a Hague-accredited adoption service provider, complete a home study and obtain approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

While this path can be complex and time-consuming, it offers the opportunity to provide a home to a child from a different cultural background.

The adoption process is complex in all these pathways. If you’re considering adopting through private means, an agency or internationally, consider seeking guidance from an adoption lawyer.

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