Legal Definitions - identified adoption

Identified adoption is a type of private adoption where the birth parents select or already know the specific individual or couple who will adopt their child before the formal adoption process begins. This means the birth parents have identified the prospective adoptive parents themselves, rather than relying on an agency to make the match. The identified adoptive parents then work directly with the birth parents, often with the assistance of an attorney or adoption facilitator, to finalize the adoption.

Here are some examples to illustrate identified adoption:

• Example 1: Sarah, who is pregnant and knows she cannot raise her child, decides she wants her cousin, Emily, and Emily's husband, Mark, to adopt the baby. Sarah approaches Emily and Mark directly, and they agree. They then work with an adoption attorney to navigate the legal steps required for Sarah to place the child with Emily and Mark for adoption. This is an identified adoption because Sarah specifically chose and approached Emily and Mark as the adoptive parents.

• Example 2: A couple, David and Lisa, have been trying to adopt for several years. They create a detailed profile on a private adoption website, including photos and letters, expressing their desire to adopt. A pregnant woman, Maria, browsing the website, feels a strong connection to David and Lisa's profile and reaches out to them directly through the platform. After several conversations, Maria decides she wants David and Lisa to adopt her child. This constitutes an identified adoption because Maria specifically identified and selected David and Lisa as the adoptive parents based on their profile.

• Example 3: A single mother, Jessica, is facing severe health issues that prevent her from caring for her two young children. She discusses her situation with her close friend, Rachel, who has always been like an aunt to the children. Jessica asks Rachel if she would be willing to adopt her children to ensure they remain with someone they know and trust. Rachel agrees, and they begin the legal process to formalize the adoption. This is an identified adoption because Jessica personally selected Rachel as the adoptive parent for her children.