Home : Alternative Adoptions (LGBT)

Adoptions for Prospective Gay and Lesbian Parents

Since its inception, AdoptHelp has been a place where birth mothers and prospective adoptive parent(s) are given unfettered freedom to make private and personal arrangements for the care of their children/children to be. Indeed, AdoptHelp is a place where each client’s individuality, beliefs, religion, ethnicity, nationality, marital status, and sexual orientation are embraced and respected.

In our experience, most of the birth mothers we work with are open to exploring all family types in selecting the parent or parents with whom they wish to place their child for adoption. Our expansive national network provides us with the flexibility to produce the right match that satisfies the preferences of our prospective adoptive parents and our birth mothers.

We work with prospective gay and lesbian parents throughout the United States; however, the adoption process varies from state to state. AdoptHelp is fortunate to be located in the state of California, which has well-established laws and procedures for adoption by gay and lesbian prospective adoptive parents. Although laws of other states vary and are currently in a state of flux, if either the prospective adoptive parents or the birth mother reside in California, the adoption can be completed under California law.

If neither the prospective adoptive parents nor the birth mother reside in California, it is still extremely likely that a gay or lesbian couple will be able to adopt a child even if they reside in a state that prohibits gay or lesbian adoptions. The vast majority of states currently permits single-parent and second parent adoptions regardless of sexual orientation. The United States Constitution requires that adoptions finalized in one state must be legally recognized by all other states, thus adoption still offers the most security in protecting the parent-child relationship of gay and lesbian parents across jurisdictions.

AdoptHelp Law Center’s attorneys are experienced in preparing cases to be finalized with the assistance of local counsel in all 50 states and have worked with many out-of-state gay and lesbian adoptive parents. Indeed, we have a network of adoption attorneys and professionals across the country ready to assist. If you have questions or concerns about the adoption process, interstate recognition of adoptions, or the adoption laws in your state, please call us toll free at 1-800-637-7999 or click on the links below to access more information on adoptions for gay and lesbian parents.

There currently are over a million children being raised in gay or lesbian households. Although in the past there was not much statistical data or research on gay and lesbian parenting, currently there is a large body of reliable statistical data and research. There are growing support networks and a body of literature available. Links to some of these resources can be accessed below.

Resources

General questions Overview of state adoption laws www.colage.org www.familypride.org www.gayparentmag.com www.lambdalegal.org

Josh and Jeff, Crystal and May