What is a private adoption?

Private adoptions are a type of adoption where the adoptive parents and the birth parents do not go through a governmental or court-controlled adoption agency. Instead, the adoptive parents locate the birth parents themselves and arrange the adoption. The process is often more cost-effective since private adoptions involve limited legal and administrative costs. In New Hampshire, private adoptions are legal as long as they follow the state’s adoption regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has certain adoption criteria and procedures that must be followed. Generally, the adoptive parents must obtain a court order for the adoption and the birth parents must consent to the adoption. The DHHS also requires that background checks be conducted on the adoptive parents, prospective birth parents, and the child. In addition, the adoptive parents must attend mandatory counseling sessions with the birth parents before the adoption can take place. Although private adoptions may seem like a more straightforward option, it is important for prospective adoptive parents to be aware of the restrictions and regulations in place to ensure the safety and best interests of the child are protected. It is also essential to obtain assistance from an experienced adoption attorney to help navigate the process and ensure the legality of the adoption.

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