Indiana Adoption
If you live in the Hoosier State and want to learn more about Indiana adoption, a Lifetime Adoption coordinator can explain the adoption process. Lifetime coordinators will be there for you whether you want to adopt a child or place a child for adoption. All the adoption information and resources you need will be provided, and all your questions will be answered.
Pregnant and Considering Adoption in Indiana
An unexpected pregnancy can cause a lot of anxiety. If you don’t feel you are ready to parent, it can be a difficult time. You may want to share your news with the baby’s father, your family, or even close friends, or you may want to keep this news to yourself. Either way, speak to a Lifetime coordinator before making any decisions, so you understand your options.
A Lifetime Adoption coordinator is available 24/7 and will be a source of support and information for you. Your coordinator will explain your options and what open adoption is. You can call, text, or fill out our online form, and a Lifetime Adoption coordinator will answer.
What is the Adoption Process in Indiana?
Expectant women and women with young children have been turning to Lifetime Adoption coordinators for help in Indiana with the adoption journey for over three decades. Just call, text, or fill out our online form. They will listen to your concerns and give you all the information you need to make the right choice for you and your baby.
Is adoption the right choice for you and your baby? Take a look at the Lifetime adoptive family profiles to find a family you believe is meant for you and your child. If you want a family that lives in Indiana or one from another state, you get to choose. You can even determine what kind of contact and how much you want in the future.
Older Child Adoption
What if you are parenting a toddler or older child and struggling? If it is not a healthy situation for your child, you should know that adoption isn’t only for newborns. You will be provided a professional counselor at no cost who will develop a transition plan that is right for you, your child, and the adoptive family. A post-adoption contact agreement can also be outlined that is healthy for everyone involved.
Adoption Plans
Not only will your coordinator help you create an adoption plan, but she will also help with a hospital plan if you are pregnant. Your coordinator will document who you want in the delivery room, who you want to hold the baby first, and other labor and delivery details. She will also let the hospital staff and adoptive family know what your wishes are. You will also have your own legal representation at no cost to you. Your lawyer will ensure you are aware of all your legal rights and understand the legalities of the adoption process.
Open Adoption in Indiana
- What kind of family are you looking for, such as race or religion?
- After the adoption, what kind of contact do you want?
- What will your hospital plan look like?
- Are there resources you need, such as medical care or help with pregnancy-related expenses?
Adoption is Not Goodbye Forever
It is important to know that modern, open adoption is a very brave and a very loving choice to make for your baby. You don’t have to say goodbye to your child forever in an open adoption. You can ask the family for updates and pictures and may have some visits once or twice a year. Many Lifetime birth mothers have lifelong relationships with their baby’s adoptive families. For example, one of our amazing birth mothers was getting married recently, and she asked if her daughter could be there. She was not only there, but the adoptive parents were there, and the adoptive father even walked the bride down the aisle.
Help With Pregnancy Expenses and More
- Reasonable pregnancy-related
- attorney fees
- Hospital and medical costs related to the pregnancy
- Counseling for the birth mother
- Travel expenses along with maternity clothes
- Living expenses, such as housing, utilities, and phone service, for the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
- Reimbursement of actual wages lost as a result of the adopted child’s birth mother’s inability to work
Post-Adoption Contact Agreements in Indiana
Indiana law supports legally enforceable PACAs under Indiana Code § 31-19-16, but only in certain types of adoptions. Specifically, these agreements are permitted in cases where the child is considered a hard-to-place child or is being adopted through the Department of Child Services. In private domestic adoptions—such as those facilitated by Lifetime Adoption—there’s currently no statute that provides for enforceable post-adoption contact agreements. However, families are still welcome to make voluntary arrangements to stay in touch. And in our experience, many adoptive families follow through with these agreements because they genuinely care about maintaining those meaningful bonds.
At Lifetime Adoption, we believe PACAs are an important part of building lasting relationships based on trust, love, and respect. We work closely with expectant mothers to help them communicate their wishes for ongoing contact, which are included in our Post-Adoption Contact Agreement. Our adoptive families are not only prepared for this type of openness—they value it. You can feel confident knowing our families are dedicated to honoring your role in your child’s story and staying connected in a way that brings comfort and peace to everyone involved.
Indiana Adoptive Families
No matter what you’re looking for in an adoptive family, you deserve to find the perfect match. Use our search families tool to search for families by things that are important to you. You can learn about each family’s:
- Lifestyle
- Family
- Home and neighborhood
- Values and religious beliefs
- Reasons for adopting
- And much more!
Families Wanting to Adopt in Indiana
Are you in Indiana and are thinking about adopting a newborn, toddler, or perhaps a child up to the age of six? As one of the leaders in open adoption, Lifetime Adoption is here to assist you in achieving a successful adoption. Pregnant mothers and adoptive families have been successfully matched through Lifetime for over three decades. Our experienced coordinators work day in and day out to make sure our birth mothers have all the support and resources they need and to connect them with the perfect adoptive families.
Starting the Adoption Process
So let’s get the adoption process started. It’s simple. Just fill out our short online application. The application process is free and does not obligate you in any way. Once your application is pre-approved, a coordinator will be in touch to introduce you to the entire adoption process. You will be guided on how to create your personal profile for birth mothers to view, provided referrals for your home study, and access to the membership site, where you will find podcasts, blogs, webinars, and other helpful resources.
As founder of Lifetime Adoption, Mardie Caldwell created Lifetime due to her experience trying to adopt her son. That was over three decades ago, and the program she designed has had continued success. Our experienced Lifetime coordinators will guide you through the adoption plan so your dreams of growing your family come true.
Adoption Laws in Indiana
In Indiana, the timeline for legal documentation for adoption is as follows.
In general, written consent of the birth parents can occur anytime after the birth. The adoption is irrevocable no later than 30 days after consent to adoption is signed.
Indiana, along with every other state, requires a home study before the finalization of the adoption. Depend on your Indiana adoption attorney to make sure all legal requirements are followed.
Home Study Referrals in Indiana
With a home study, be prepared to show:
- The home is suitable for a child
- All adults in the home must pass a criminal background check
- A period of postplacement supervision
Indiana Adoption Attorneys
The expertise of Indiana adoption attorneys is indispensable when navigating the intricate and constantly evolving legal landscape of adoption within the state. Their first concern is safeguarding the rights and interests of all parties involved, including prospective adoptive parents, birth parents, and the child at the heart of the process.
One of the most important duties of Indiana adoption attorneys is overseeing the legal details of the adoption journey. This involves drafting and preparing crucial legal documents such as adoption agreements, consent forms, and court petitions. By ensuring compliance with all necessary legal requirements, these attorneys help create a seamless and efficient adoption process. This is particularly important in cases of interstate adoptions.
In addition, Indiana adoption attorneys provide help to prospective adoptive parents, by highlighting their rights, responsibilities, and the legal ramifications of adoption. They also extend support to birth parents, by helping them understand their options, rights, and the legal procedures involved in placing a child for adoption.
For instance incases where adoptions are contested or there are legal disputes, these attorneys serve as staunch advocates for their clients. They represent their clients’ interests in court proceedings, mediation sessions, and negotiations, tirelessly striving to secure the best possible outcome for all parties concerned.
Ensuring Ethical Adoptions
Furthermore, Indiana adoption attorneys ensure the ethical conduct of adoptions, by adhering to all laws and regulations. Collaborating closely with adoption agencies like Lifetime Adoption, social workers, and other professionals, they uphold the highest standards of ethical practice throughout the adoption process.
For referrals to competent Indiana adoption attorneys in your area, please reach out to a Lifetime Adoption coordinator at 1-800-923-6784 or utilize the “Text Us” feature located at the bottom of this page.
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Lifetime Adoption, Inc. is a Licensed Child Placing Agency in Arkansas. (License AR #00050809)
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