How To Adopt A Baby With Lifetime Adoption

Researching how to adopt a baby or how to adopt a child can seem overwhelming at first. But it doesn’t have to be. With Lifetime Adoption’s safe and successful nationwide adoption program, thousands of families have grown through the miracle of adoption, and we’d love to help you, too!

Smiling black father and adopted baby taking a selfie after adopting a baby with Lifetime AdoptionSimply by taking the first step in visiting our website today, you are learning more about the adoption process and on your way to your own Lifetime Adoption. Lifetime was founded by Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., in 1986 as a result of her own journey to become a parent through adoption, after losing seven pregnancies. With our history of providing successful adoption services nationwide for adoptive families, we welcome the opportunity to learn more about you and your adoption hopes.

Through the years, we have worked with many birth mothers who are looking for stable, loving parents for their babies and children. You are an important part of the decision-making process for them as they consider placing their child for adoption. You just may be the one they are looking for.

 

Let’s take a look at how to adopt a baby and how Lifetime Adoption partners with families like you to make it happen.

Step 1: Complete the Free Online Application

The first step in how to adopt a child with Lifetime, is to complete our free online adoption application. It takes about 15 minutes and gives us a snapshot of you, your life, and what you are looking for in a child. You’ll need to be at least 21 years of age with a stable lifestyle to adopt. If you’d like to ask some questions before you apply, you can speak with a domestic adoption specialist at any time. We want to help you each step of the way.. For prospective adoptive families just starting the adoption process, we offer:

  • Free Adoption Application
  • Adoption Consultations: If you’d like to schedule an adoption consultation, call or message us for more information. Our phone number is 727-493-0933.
  • Free Adoption Webinars: If you’d rather do a little more research before committing to a consultation, consider utilizing the resources for potential adoptive families on our website. These include frequent — and free! — educational adoption webinars. They’ll teach you about the open adoption process and Lifetime Adoption’s role in the process.

Step 2: Review the Adoption Process Resources

You can find additional notes on starting the adoption process here. It’s important to note that, typically, Lifetime Adoption doesn’t use a waiting list. As a Lifetime family, you can be assured that our adoption coordinators are presenting your information to each and every expectant mother who matches your adoption preferences. It doesn’t matter when you began working with us, each Lifetime family who is ready to adopt is available to be chosen at any time.

In addition to couples struggling with infertility, Lifetime helps single parents, non-citizens residing in the United States, and people already raising children. Please note that there are challenges involved with adopting as an unmarried couple — both legally and from the perspective of birth mothers, who often prefer the stability of couples who have made the commitment to marry.

We are always happy to provide more information, so feel free to call or email anytime if you have additional questions about how to adopt a child.

Step 3: Complete the Adoption Paperwork

One of the things you’ll discover when researching about how to adopt a baby, is that there is a lot of paperwork involved in adoption! The good news is that most of it can be completed in the comfort of your home, even though you are working with Lifetime’s nationwide program. A lot of the adoption paperwork Lifetime requires can be completed by mail, fax, or email. It is not mandatory to travel to meet us, but we are always happy to meet families in person when they come to visit.”

So if you’re in Kansas, Kentucky, or Kalamazoo, we’ll be with you every step of the way, even though we’re in Florida!

Step 4: Build Your Adoption Profile

Our talented team of adoption coordinators will help you put together an adoption profile that contains info about your family, the life you have to offer a child, and the photos you need to introduce yourself to expectant mothers. We help you create both a hard copy profile as well as an online profile on our website of waiting families. The online profile is available 24/7 so expectant mothers can learn about you around the clock. We will even help and guide you to create a video to add to that page, so it is a “living introduction” to birth families who are looking for families like you!

Lifetime was one of the first domestic adoption agencies to use the internet to bring families together. With your online profile also available on our smartphone app for both iPhone and Android, you are getting more exposure to potential birth parents than any other online opportunities. That means you can trust us to get you the exposure you need to make a successful connection for your Lifetime Adoption.

Step 5: Prepare for Your Home Study

baby on rocking horse smiling with adoptive mom who adopted her baby with Lifetime AdoptionAdoption home studies are required for every adoption. Each state has its own requirements for home studies, but they typically include background checks, interviews with you, home visits, and verification that you are ready and able to provide for a child. This portion of the process of how to adopt a baby is very detailed.

In fact, one question we often hear when people are researching how to adopt a child is ”What is a home study?” It is good to understand that, while there are variations, a home study will require very detailed personal information about your family background, employment, financial status, general health, and medical history, insurance coverage (including medical and live), and criminal background. All home studies also require reference letters from family and friends as well as adoption education classes for you to complete. At the end of the process, the home study provider will write her report and give you their recommendation to adopt.

With Lifetime’s nationwide referral list, we will help you find a great local home study provider who will work with you to get this aspect of your adoption done so you are on track and ready to adopt!

Please know that you will not need to have completed a home study prior to beginning your Lifetime Adoption journey with us.

Step 6: Plan Your Finances

Lifetime Adoption has a variety of options for parents wanting to know hot to adopt a baby and your adoption coordinator will help you discover which one is best for you. There are many aspects of adoption that make up the total cost of adoption including legal, home study, services to locate a match, birth mother expenses, travel, and more.

Adoptions at a national level can cost as little as nothing or over $50,000. The overall price is based on many factors, which we will be happy to discuss as you begin your adoption journey with us. Keep in mind that Lifetime Adoption is generally an affordable choice when it comes to domestic adoption agencies.

Lifetime also offers a wide array of adoption financing help, including access to affordable loans, adoption grants, and information to help you learn if your employer provides adoption benefits at work. We even have information to you on the federal tax credit which is a huge help for families working to make adoption affordable.

Here are some additional adoption resources and information. And be sure to look through our extensive adoption blog section, which includes pieces on what to expect as a family adopting a child. And be sure to ask us about access to adoption attorneys.

As a private adoption agency that specializes in domestic infant adoptions, Lifetime’s adoption coordinators provide a tremendous amount of support and guidance every step of the way. Because we focus on one thing, we put all our effort toward your adoption success. (We don’t coordinate international adoptions or adoption through the foster care system.) For our birth mothers, it’s a blessing for them to know that there are people like you out there, ready to embrace their baby with open arms for a Lifetime Adoption.

Get More Info Now About How to Adopt a Child

If you live outside of the United States, please click here.

“Hi Renatta, wanted to send a quick note to let you know how much I appreciated the webinar today. It brought tears of joy. As I listened, I was moved by the love and beauty of the story of how multiple families were blessed through adoption. However, that wasn’t the first time today that I was filled with joy. Heidi’s email about our video being shared tomorrow got me so excited. I wasn’t alone; my co-workers started squealing as well. Thanks to you and Lifetime for making this process easier to navigate! “
Amanda

 

 
 

Mardie Caldwell

 

 
 

Funding Your Adoption

 

 
 

Called To Adoption

 

 
 

Open Adoption Webinars

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