Adoption in WV

Adoption Process in WV, Home Studies and More

If you live in the Mountain State and want to learn more about adoption, Lifetime Adoption coordinators can provide information and guide you on your adoption journey. Are you considering placing your child for adoption? Are you considering adopting a child? Lifetime Adoption coordinators are available to answer any questions and provide the information needed to decide if adoption is the right choice for you.

Pregnant and Considering Adoption in WV

It can be overwhelming if you get a jolt of fear, sadness, or anxiety when that pregnancy test comes back positive. What your next step is can be hard to determine when you are experiencing a lot of emotions and confusion. Sometimes when you share your news with the baby’s father, family, or friends, the reactions you receive may vary, making you feel more confused and unsure where to turn.

A safe place to turn to is Lifetime Adoption. When you call or text, you will be connected with a non-judgmental and kind coordinator who can help you consider all of your options calmly. Just call, text , or fill out our online form to get more info anytime, and an adoption coordinator is always available to help. If you feel you need professional or peer counseling, she can make that available. The benefit of a counselor is that she can help you navigate the pros and cons of all your options.

What is the Adoption Process in West Virginia?

Lifetime Adoption coordinators have worked with expectant mothers in West Virginia to create adoption plans for over 30 years. The first step is simple, just call, text, or fill out our online form. You will be put in touch with an adoption coordinator who will find out what your hopes are and what resources and support are needed.

Your coordinator will have you search adoptive family profiles and choose a family you feel is right for you and your baby. You can choose a family that lives close to you in West Virginia or maybe a family from a different state. You can decide if you want a post-adoption contact agreement or if you prefer no contact at this time. It is important to know that adoption isn’t only for newborns. If you have a toddler or older child, adoption is still an option. In this case, a professional counselor will guide you, your child, and the adoptive family through the transition.

A hospital plan will be created if you are pregnant. Your coordinator will help you make decisions such as, who you would like in the delivery room, who should cut the cord, and who will hold the baby first, along with other details. There will be no cost to you, and you will have a legal representative who will ensure all your rights are taken into account and that you understand them.

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Open Adoption in West Virginia

How much do you know about modern, open adoption? Most people don’t know that when you choose adoption, the birth parents make most of the decisions. For example, which adoptive family will adopt your baby, and what kind of contact you will have in the future? You can expect a lot of questions from your Lifetime Adoption coordinator because she wants to create a personalized adoption plan for you and your baby. An example of some questions are:

Would you like the coordinator to choose the adoptive parents, or would you like to?
What kind of post-adoption contact would you like?
Would you like to create a hospital plan outlining who will be there, who will hold the baby, and other details?
Would you like the adoptive parents to be a part of your pregnancy, such as going to doctor’s visits?
Are you in need of help with pregnancy-related expenses?

Adoption is a brave and loving choice if you feel parenting your child is not the right choice for you and your baby. There are loving families that are ready and excited to grow their family by adopting your child. This choice does not mean you must forever say goodbye to your child. With open adoption, you can receive updates, share pictures on social media, and even have occasional visits. We have many birth mothers and adoptive families that have great relationships. Recently, one of our birth mothers was getting married and wanted her daughter to be there. The adoptive parents were thrilled, and not only did the daughter attend, and the adoptive father actually walked the birth mother down the aisle.

Help With Pregnancy Expenses and More

Emily called Lifetime and was considering placing her baby for adoption. She had been kicked out of her home by an abusive boyfriend and decided she needed to change how her life was going. Now, she was worried because she had nowhere to live and added expenses due to her pregnancy. Her Lifetime Adoption coordinator informed her that in the state of West Virginia, pregnancy-related expenses could be covered by the adopting parents. The expenses include:

Reasonable legal, hospital, medical, or other expenses incurred in connection with the pregnancy, birth, and adoption in WV
Any additional fees authorized by law or approved by the court.

Counseling may be an important resource for you. Lifetime Adoption will provide professional and peer counseling at no cost to you. A professional counselor can help you navigate the emotions and decisions that are part of the adoption process. You may prefer peer counselors who are birth mothers who have been in your shoes and have been through the adoption process. They can relate to your emotions and feelings and help you with your adoption journey.

West Virginia Adoptive Families

The adoption profiles below will show you waiting adoptive parents of all types and backgrounds in West Virginia. When you browse these profiles, you can learn more about their:

Lifestyle
Family
Neighborhood and house
Religious beliefs and values
Adoption reasons
And more!

No matter what you’re looking for in an adoptive family, you deserve to find the perfect match. With waiting families from across the country, Lifetime Adoption provides more adoptive family profiles for you, giving you a greater chance of finding the right fit for your child.

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Families Thinking About Adoption in WV

Are you considering growing your family through adoption? Is adopting a newborn, toddler, or child up to the age of 6 in West Virginia a consideration? As a leader in modern, open adoption, Lifetime Adoption can make your adoption hopes to come true. Our adoption coordinators have successfully matched birth parents and adoptive families for over three decades. We feel birth mothers are so brave and so loving and our coordinators are dedicated to ensuring they have all the resources and support they need. They want to create strong and successful matches between birth parents and adoptive families.

Starting the Adoption Process

Is getting started complicated? No, just fill out our short online application for adoptive families. The application is free and does not obligate you in any way. This application helps us understand what your adoption hopes are. It is reviewed, and once pre-approved, your adoption coordinator sets up a time to explain the entire adoption process and answer all your questions. If you decide to move forward, you will be given instructions on how to create an adoptive family profile for birth mothers to view, information on getting your home study completed, and access to an abundance of education, such as blogs, articles, webinars and other resources on our membership site. If you have additional questions, just give us a call at 727-493-0933, and a coordinator will be happy to help.

Mardie Caldwell, the founder of Lifetime Adoption, created the Lifetime Adoption program after her experience adopting her son. For over three decades, the Lifetime program has been successfully matching birth parents and adoptive parents.

Adoption Laws in West Virginia

West Virginia adoption laws can seem hard to navigate. Don’t be concerned. You will have an adoption attorney to guide you through the legal aspects of the West Virginia adoption process.

Typically, in West Virginia, the timeline for legal documentation and the timeline for adoption are as follows.

In general, the birth mother signs papers surrendering 72 hours after the birth. The adoptive parents cannot finalize their adoption until six months after the placement of the child in their home.

During the six months, there will be additional home study visits and a hearing after six months where a judge will review the home study and other documentation. Issuance of a final decree of adoption can then finalize the adoption.

It is important to understand that every adoption is unique, and there can be exceptions along with different legal requirements depending on the facts of the adoption. Consult with your adoption attorney to ensure your adoption goes smoothly and all West Virginia legal aspects are completed correctly.

West Virginia Home Studies

A home study is a required legal document that confirms to the courts your ability to adopt and parent a child. A home study is required, throughout the nation, to complete an adoption. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will refer you to a local home study provider in West Virginia.

A home study in West Virginia includes the following:

Criminal background checks
Medical reports
Interviews
Employment verification
At least 4 references
Financial verification
Home visit by a social worker

Your home visit will ensure you have safe and adequate housing for a child. All members of the household will be interviewed, and you will provide information about your marital relationships, motivation to adopt, parenting style and beliefs, education, and more.

Your West Virginia home study social worker will contact you via phone within 72 hours of placement and will come for a visit within one week. There will be a minimum of six visits before adoption finalization. 

Whether placing a child for adoption or hoping to adopt, Lifetime Adoption is here to support you through the process.

Mardie Caldwell

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