NH Adoptive Parent FAQs (BPA)
Q: Will the baby I adopt be healthy?
Yes – in general, most babies are healthy. Once you are matched with a birthmother, our adoption professionals request medical records and forward them to you with the suggestion that the records be reviewed by your personal physician. If your physician has questions, oftentimes we can facilitate conversations between doctors to further discussion.
Q: How much information will I/we receive about the birth parents?
Information often varies, but there are usually social background and medical records for the birthmother. If the father is involved, we may also receive social and medical background details for him as well.
Q: How soon after the birth can the birthmother surrender her parental rights?
Most states allow a birthmother to give up her rights after a period of 72 hours. Once the birthmother signs the surrender giving up her rights as a parent, she cannot change her mind unless there is fraud or duress.
Q: How long after the birth will the child be placed in my/our care?
In most states, the child is placed with the adoptive couple within a few days.
Q: How long will it take to find a child?
Clients of Bianco Professional Association wait, on average, one year. However, the time can often be less than one year depending on the flexibility of the adoptive parent(s).
Q: How much contact will I/we have with the birthmother?
Prior to the baby being born, you may have the opportunity to speak or meet with the birthmother. After the adoption, contact usually consists of notes and pictures, but the frequency of the contact is agreed to by both parties before the agreement is finalized.
Q: Is a home study required?
Yes, all adoptive families are required to have a home study completed. Home studies consist of a social worker visiting your home to observe its environment, the completion of a criminal background check, a health report from your physician, and speaking with personal references.
Q: How much does an adoption cost?
The cost is dependent on the various needs of the birthmother during the term of her pregnancy.
Q: Do birth fathers have rights?
Yes, birth fathers have rights. We prefer to have the father involved in the adoption process and then surrender his parental rights along with the birthmother. However, in many cases the fathers are not involved with the mother or the child. In those cases, the father’s rights can be ended through notification or court process.
For more information on the adoption services provided by BPA, please call 603-225-7170, toll-free at 800-262-8112, or send a message using our contact form.
