US Adoptions

Adoption Attorney Stephen Ravel shares advice on how prospective adoptive parents are matched with a birth mother and what the process is for finalizing the relationship
How Adoptive Parents Are Matched With The Birth Mother
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

US Adoptions

Comment
92
Like
92
Transcription: 
In getting connected with the birth mother there are a couple of stages that go into the process. Initially, I'll typically hear from the birth mom; get some background information about her; pass that information on to the adopting parents; get forms filled out for her medical releases; and then at that poi nt talk to her doctor. If the clients want to they can talk to the birth mother; they can meet the birth mother; they can make the decision if she's the right birth mom for them, just like she's making the decision as to whether they're the right family for her and her child. I like to tell my clients that it's a learning process. You can learn enough to know you don't want to proceed. You don't have to go forward with the process even if you've heard about a birth mom, even if you've met her, even if you've paid her a bit of support. It's really importnat to recognize that you're not obligated to proceed if something comes up that's wrong. It's a learning process.

Adoption Attorney Stephen Ravel shares advice on how prospective adoptive parents are matched with a birth mother and what the process is for finalizing the relationship

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Stephen Ravel

Adoption Attorney

Stephen Ravel attended UC Berkley for his undergraduate degree and Santa Clara Law School for his law degree. Stephen has been an attorney since 1973, and has been involved with adoption law since 1984. He has handled over 1,300 adoptions since the start of his career. Stephen is married and has three children. His oldest child was adopted from Brazil at birth.

More Parenting Videos from Stephen Ravel >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter