An independent adoption is similar to a private agency adoption; only the private placement agency is not party to this type of placement. Independent Adoptions are also not related to an adoption of a foster child. Depending upon the state, licensed and unlicensed facilitators are associated with this type of adoption. Physicians, lawyers and adoption facilitators may be able to be involved in these adoptions, but adoption “facilitators”* are not legal in every state. These adoptions are completed by the families involved, under the given State Statutes and may or may not include an open adoption agreement.

Pro
• More control over process
• Potentially more knowledge about who profile is shared with

Con

• Oftentimes birth parents are not offered counseling
• Costs unknown at beginning of process
• Potentially very costly

* Families Like Ours does not recommend using an unlicensed adoption facilitator.