Private Adoptions

Private adoption is one of several mechanisms by which an individual or a couple struggling with infertility can create a family. The private adoption process allows biological parents’ input into the selection of prospective adoptive parents, so that they are able to enter into an adoption plan which they consider to be best for their child’s future wellbeing, as well as their own.

Prospective adoptive parents may prefer private adoption because it allows them to obtain information about the birth parents and it avoids the bureaucracy and long waiting lists associated with private and public agencies.

However, adoption laws are confusing and mistakes can be made. It is important to retain counsel with experience in this field in order to have a successful adoption.  We wrote the book on private adoption; two of our attorneys co-authored four editions of a monograph Private Adoption in Kentucky (UK/CLE Monograph 1989, 1994, 1998, 2000), and have lectured on numerous occasions concerning private adoption.

Goldberg Simpson attorneys have experience in dealing with all aspects of private adoption.  They are available to assist prospective adoptive parents seeking adoption opportunities as well as to assist biological parents seeking to place their child for adoption.  The attorneys also have litigation experience in the rare situations where those involved in the private adoption process have encountered problems.

Private adoption – an adoption without the intervention of a licensed adoption agency — continues to gain ground as an alternative to locating children available for adoption through the State or a charitable or religious organization. Private adoption allows biological parents to have input into the selection of the prospective adoptive parents, so that they are able to enter into an adoption plan that they consider to be best for the child’s future well-being as well as their own.  This process provides comfort to the biological parents who are attempting to integrate their child into a new family.

Private adoptions also provide the opportunity for a complete recording of pertinent medical histories, the potential for completing the adoption within a reasonable period of time and the security that comes with competent legal counseling and guidance.

Competent legal representation is critical in the private adoption process, as strict compliance with statutes is required. Each state that permits private adoptions has statutes that provide waiting periods for the completion of the private adoption.  These statutes are designed to give the biological parent(s) sufficient time to make a final decision.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Goldberg Simpson at 502-589-4440.