~ Services and Information ~

Adoptive parent services include home studies, counseling, parent training, child placement, interstate compact services, and all of the legal work necessary to finalize an adoption.

Adoption Costs: 

Adoptive parents are responsible for the various costs for professional services and assistance to the birth mother.  The costs are broken down on The Facts page.  The Federal government offers a tax credit (IRS Form 8839) of up to $12,150 of adoption costs to be returned to the adoptive parents in the year that the adoption is finalized.  South Carolina, as well as all other states, subsidize the adoption of children from the foster care system and provide most of the adoption services for free.  Ask you employer whether it offers adoption assistance as part of your employee benefit plan.

Home Study:  

The adoption laws of South Carolina require a home study of all non-relative placements of a child.  The home study is relied upon by adoption agencies, attorneys, courts and state and foreign governments. 

A home study includes biographical information about and interviews with all household members as well as documentation of income, employment, birth, health, marital status and personal references.  A criminal background investigation is also a part of the study.  The home study report must be done by a licensed professional who recommends the adoptive parents as suitable parents for a child.  Once the adoptive parents have this report, they are qualified for the placement of a child.

Once a child has been placed in a new home, the post-placement period begins.  The post-placement period is a time of adjustment for the newly created family before the adoption becomes final.  The post-placement stage includes visit(s) over a period of several months, as well as status reports about the child’s health and development and the adoptive family’s adjustment.  At this time, we also offer counseling to our adoptive parents during this period of adjustment.

Parenting Class:

We strongly recommend that our adoptive parents take a parenting class, especially when adopting an older child.  We can recommend a parenting class is taught twice a year by one of our independent counselors.  It will cover topics such as Attachment and Bonding; Talking to your children about adoption; Impacts of adoption on the family; Child development; Parenting techniques; Caring for a special needs child; and Raising a child of a different race or ethnicity.  It will also feature a guest lecturer who will be an adoptive parent, an adoptee or a birth mother.  

Legal Services: Adoption has complex legal issues which require the experience and expertise of a lawyer.  If you are adopting a child from a different home state than yours, the requirements of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children must be met.

~ Frequently Asked Questions ~

The South Carolina Statutes govern the requirements for adoptions in the state of South Carolina.  If you currently reside in another state, the answers to the questions may be different because each state has enacted its own set of adoption laws.  Please contact us for help regarding your state’s laws.

Do I have to be wealthy to adopt a child?

No.  There are many options for adoption that are available to families of different incomes.  The cost of adoption depends on the particular situation and what is appropriate for your family.

Are there age, marital, religious or other restrictions?

No.

Will you work with out-of-state families?

Yes, we are happy to work with out-of-state families.  We can process an Interstate Compact case and will work to reconcile the conflict of laws that may exist between South Carolina and your home state.

Will you work with military families?

Yes.  U.S. military adoptive parents who claim residency in the State of South Carolina may adopt as any other South Carolina family.  If you have a different state of residency, you will be assisted as any other out-of-state family.

What type of adoption is right for me?

That is a question that each adoptive family must answer for themselves.  We are available to help you through this process and provide you with the information to assist in making the decisions that are right for you and your family.

What will the birth mother know about me?

This will depend on how open or closed the adoption is.  The birth mother will receive your information packet, which will include your letter to her and your family profile.  She may also want to speak with you by telephone or meet with you in person.   It is common for birth parents and adoptive parents to exchange letters.  However, unless it is an open or semi-open adoption, this contact is generally limited to pre-birth of the baby.

What should I say when communicating with the birth mother?

You should let the birth mother get to know you and establish a comfort level by focusing on yourself.  You should not ask her questions concerning personal or confidential information or question her medical history.  Please let us handle those questions for you.  We simply want the birth mother and the adoptive parents to have an empathetic understanding of each other’s situation.

Will the birth mother receive counseling?

Yes.  We very strongly recommend counseling for the birth mother, although we cannot make it mandatory.  Some birth mothers are not willing to receive counseling and we cannot force them to do so.

Will an adopted child know about his or her birth family and background?

This also will depend on how open or closed the adoption is.  However, no matter what type of adoption plan is chosen, an adopted child will be provided with a complete medical and social history of the birth parent(s).  Background information includes how the birth parents grew up, if they have siblings or other children, their education, interest, hobbies and talents.  The medical history will include information about the birth parents and their families, although we cannot guarantee the health or medical history of the child.

Will an adopted child feel “different” from other children?

The statistics show that one in ten children is adopted, and in fact, many of these children feel “special” rather than “different” because their birth parents and adoptive parents made a plan in his or her best interest.

Should I tell my child that he or she was adopted?

Yes.  Professionals agree that adopted children should be told at an early age that they were adopted so that they have a clearer understanding of who they are, especially is the child is of a different ethnic/cultural heritage than you.  Adopted children need to know about themselves and their families just as much as non-adopted children do.  Keeping this information from an adopted child could create trust issues in the future.  This issue is covered in the parenting class that we recommend.

Do people adopt “special needs” children?

Yes!  Many potential adoptive parents want to welcome a “special needs” child into their home.  They may have other special needs children, or they may believe that they are financially and emotionally capable of providing the attention and care that these special children require.  Our attorney, Emily S. McDaniel, is the aunt of a special needs child and offers a reduction in fees for the adoption of a special needs child.

For how long is the home study valid?

A home study is valid for one year in the state of South Carolina.

How am I matched with a birth mother?

A birth mother will list her desires and the qualities important to her in an adoptive family.  She is then matched with the first five families on our waiting list that meets her request.  We will only provide her with additional families to consider if she requests it.  If the birth mother requests that we select the family, then we will do so in a chronological order.

How long will I be on the waiting list before I can adopt a child?

Your length of time on the waiting list will depend on a number of controllable and uncontrollable factors.  Factors such as age, race/ethnicity, health and needs of the child play a role in determining the length of time before a child is identified as appropriate for an adoptive family.  Generally, the average waiting period to be matched with a birth mother expecting a Caucasian child is 18-24 months, a biracial child is 6-18 months and an African-American child is 6 months.  The wait can be dramatically shorter or longer depending on individual situations and the restrictions you have on the type of child you select. 

Remember though that prospective parents must take the first step of completing an application with us to get on our waiting list.  Your diligence and patience are important.  A birth mother cannot select you to adopt her child if you do not put yourself out there.

How do I begin the process of getting a home study done?

We will refer you to a licensed social worker who can arrange a fast and efficient home study for adoption. 

When will the adoption papers be signed?

The consent for adoption will be signed after the birth mother gives birth to the baby but before she is discharged from the hospital.  If the birth mother has a C-section, we will wait until she is free of narcotic medicine before having her sign.  There is no waiting period.

Can a birth parent change his/her mind after the consent is signed?

Once the adoption consent is signed it is binding and irrevocable, unless overturned by a court for fraud or duress. 

What if the birth mother changes her mind before signing the papers?

This is called a disrupted placement.  Adoptive parents that have a disrupted placement go immediately to the top of the waiting list.

How long does it take for the adoption to be finalized?

Finalization normally occurs within 4 to 6 months of placement, but can be delayed for various reasons.

Do I need to update my will once the adoption is complete?

Yes.  Once the adoption is complete you will need to update your will.  Having an up-to-date will is important for all of your children, whether biological or adopted.  The two most important reasons for having a current will involve naming your children as beneficiaries of your estate and appointing guardians in the event that something happens to you.  A will is the only legally recognized document where you can make these important decisions.  Without a will, the Court will make a determination for you.

How do I start the adoption process?

Call us at (843) 723-1688 to speak with an adoption professional, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.  We will be happy to send you written information or to arrange a consultation at a time convenient to you, either in person or by telephone.  You may also fill out our Adoptive parents questionnaire which will reach us via email. All of the information you provide to us is completely confidential and in no way obligates you to choose adoption or us to represent you.

We are available to work with you individually, answer your questions and assist you in making an adoption plan that is right for you and your family.  We look forward to celebrating one of life’s most rewarding experiences with you.