Deciding to adopt a child or to place a baby for adoption can be a hard choice  for many prospective birth and adoptive parents. For others, the choice is easy and clear. Wherever you are in the decision-making process, we’ll provide you with support, answers to your questions and the information you need to make an informed, confident decision.

Ready to move forward with the process of adoption in Richmond? Now it’s time for adoptive parents to decide which type of adoption they wish to pursue and choose a professional to assist them. 

Types of adoption include:

• Domestic or international
• Public (foster care) or private (direct infant placement)
• If private, agency-assisted or independent (without an agency)

We can help you with all of these types of adoption in Richmond and more. Adoptive parents typically work with a primary professional  who can complete the type of Richmond adoption placement they want. Prospective birth parents may also wish to contact a primary professional for help accessing the support services they need.

No matter what type of adoption or primary professional you choose, we'll guide you through the complex legal steps of your Richmond adoption journey. Working with an experienced, licensed Richmond adoption attorney is not optional. It's the most important thing you can do to protect everyone involved.

Next, prospective birth and adoptive parents are asked to consider what they envision in an ideal Richmond adoption situation. Adoptive parents must consider what type of adoptive opportunities they’d be open to accepting. Prospective birth parents will need to think about the type of adoptive family  they want for their child, how open they’d like the adoption to be and more.

Regardless of what you’re looking for in an ideal Richmond adoption situation, we’ll ensure that your interests, wishes and rights are respected throughout the process.

Depending on the path you’ve chosen, how you find a Richmond adoption opportunity will vary:

• In an international or public agency (foster care) adoption, the agency will notify the adoptive family regarding a child who is currently waiting to be adopted.
• In independent domestic adoptions in Richmond (without an agency), pregnant women and hopeful parents must find one another on their own, often online or through personal acquaintances.
• In private domestic agency adoptions, pregnant women view profiles of waiting adoptive families to choose their child’s future parents. Then, the agency guides and supports the match.

Once you’ve found your Richmond adoption opportunity, both parties must be separately represented by individual adoption lawyers in Richmond. Why? Because separately representing the two parties is the best way to ensure that your Richmond adoption is ethical and completed with everyone's needs in mind. If you need a referral to a second trusted adoption attorney in Richmond, we’re happy to help.

This is the most emotional, life-changing moment in the Richmond adoption process. It’s also a step that must be completed in careful and thorough adherence to Virginia adoption laws.  We'll guide you safely through the legal process of placement so you can focus on this big moment.

In this last legal step of Richmond adoptions, the child becomes a permanent, official member of his or her new family. This is another exciting, emotional moment that must be completed in strict adherence to Virginia adoption laws.  Finalization provides one last look at the adoption at hand, ensuring that everything has been completed correctly in the eyes of the law. With us at your side, finalization will be a smooth, positive experience.