Adoption
Adoptive Parents
Building Families can guide adoptive parents through a variety of adoption situations. From matching you with birth mothers looking to place their child for adoption to helping you navigate agency and DSS adoptions, we're here for you every step of the way.
Domestic Adoption
We work with adoptive parents at all stages of the process, from those who are just beginning and looking to match with an expectant mother to those who have already matched with an expectant mother independently to those who are adopting via S.C. Department of Social Services or another agency. We are here to ensure as smooth and seamless a process as possible.
Independent Matches
We work with prospective adoptive families who match with an expectant mother on their own. We ensure prospective adoptive parents are prepared for each stage of the adoption process and that they have the knowledge and resources needed to successfully build their family through adoption. We work with a variety of social workers across the state to ensure that expectant parents have the resources they need throughout the pregnancy, delivery, and post-birth.
Matching Adoptive Parents with Expectant Mothers
During your first consultation, we will discuss your options for starting the family building process. You will be informed about matching options, including agencies with whom we work, independent placements, financial commitments involved with adoption, South Carolina laws regarding adoptions, and what to expect at each stage of the adoption process.
Agency Adoption
If you are working with a local or national agency to adopt a child and either you or the expectant mother reside in South Carolina, do not hesitate to contact our firm and learn more about how we can help you through the legal aspects of your adoption process.
Interstate Adoption
We represent families in other states who are working with expectant mothers here in South Carolina as well as families in South Carolina who are working with expectant mothers in other states to ensure the adoptive families have complied with all of the terms of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and to finalize their adoption.
Contested Adoption
Contested adoptions take many shapes and forms. Sometimes the issues are minor and sometimes they are more involved, leading to a long and emotionally draining legal battle. Contested adoptions can involve termination of parental rights, notice issues, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and more. We will discuss the legal issues present in your case and develop a strategy specific to your needs.
Stepparent & Relative Adoption
Stepparent adoptions, in which a biological parent of a child remarries and his or her spouse wishes to assume legal parenthood, and adoptions by close relatives often serve to make legal a relationship that already exists in the home. We can help you through this process and offer the guidance you need.
Foster Care Adoption
If you are seeking to adopt a child placed with you through the South Carolina foster care system, do not hesitate to call our firm and learn more about your options and how we can help you through the process of adopting a foster child.
Domesticating Foreign Adoption
If you adopted a child from a foreign country and need to domesticate your foreign adoption here in South Carolina, we can help complete this process for your family.
Expectant Mothers
We help expectant mothers through each step of the process. We will ensure you understand your options and have support during and after your pregnancy. We understand placing a child for adoption is not an easy decision. We will walk alongside you throughout the pregnancy and ensure your needs are being met.
Counseling will be made available to you, before and after birth.
Our services are free of charge to you.
We help you craft your own individual adoption plan.
We are not affiliated with DSS.
We are not a foster care program.
We will come to you.
Looking to serve as a surrogate?
We can represent you in the review and negotiation of your gestational carrier agreement.