Domestic Infant Adoption in Portland, Maine
Anyone hoping to adopt an infant in Portland, Maine, must be familiar with Maine's laws governing domestic adoption. Private and foster care adoption is regulated by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.
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Adopting in Maine
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Singles, married and same-sex couples are allowed to adopt under Maine law, but private agencies may have their own separate list of requirements. Adoptive parents must be 21 or over, have a stable home environment and be in good health. Maine has nine private adoption agencies licensed with the Department of Health and Human Services. Two are in Portland, with several others located within a 20-mile radius of the city.
Adopting an Infant
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Infant domestic adoptions in Maine are typically finalized shortly after birth. Most domestic infant adoptions in Maine are done privately, through an agency or attorney. Maine law does not allow prospective parents to advertise to find potential birth parents. A typical agency program might include paperwork, interviews, a home study and adoption education classes. Prospective parents write a biography and submit information to introduce themselves to expectant mothers.
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Birth Parents
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An expectant mother can choose her child's adoptive family through an agency or attorney. Before the adoption can be finalized, the biological parents must sign a consent in front of a judge. This can be done any time after the child's birth but typically occurs between seven and 30 days. After consent is signed, birth parents have three days to revoke the consent.
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- Photo Credit soft focused portrait of a newborn baby image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
