Is soliciting for a baby legal?

Question

There is actually an add in my newspaper saying something along the lines of "Pregnant and confused? We are a good Christian couple looking to adopt." and then it list a number. I was curious as to if this was legal? I thought you had to go through the state or foster to adopt. All answers appriciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

There are many ways to adopt children other than just foster care. Independent adoption (where couples who seek to adopt a child will network with others on their own to find adoption situations and then use an attorney to finalize it. Sometimes it is called private adoption.).  There is also agency adoption where adoptive couples will hire an agency to help them seek out situations and help in facilitating the paper work and legal process on their behalf.

In some states it is illegal to post adoption ads for the purpose of seeking children for adoption, however, in most states it is perfectly legal to do so.

Answer 2

no it is not illegal to do that.  no one is being harmed.  you do not have to go thru the state or foster care for adoption.  my daughter was put up for adoption and it was a private but open adoption.

Answer 3

I know it's illegal here in the UK

But in the States?  - anything goes and it's disgraceful.  People who do this are leaving themselves wide open to be scammed and then cry 'foul'.  It's just asking for it IMO

Answer 4

I do not think this would be a good thing.

If I had a baby that I wanted to place for adoption, I would contact an agency. I believe they do home studies, background checks and such that a person on there own would have a hard time doing.

If I wanted a baby, I would want to go though an agency. It would just make the process simplier I think. I would not want to adopt a baby from a teenager who got pregnant and is confused about what she is doing. I think it would be wrong to take advantage of a person in this situation.

It is a tough thing though, I understand that the adoption process can be long and expensive. I think that the procedures are in place for a reason though, to protect everyone.

Answer 5

I would say thats what us brits call dodgy! Yeah that sounds like its illegal, and a d**n discrace at that too! Thats a VILE way of wanting to adopt. Why cant people go through the proper channels instead of doing it like that. Its like they are after a new fridgefreezer or somthing. YAK

Answer 6

Unethical, yes. Immoral, yes. Legal, unfortunately yes.

Answer 7

Its illegal in many countries, but not the USA, because we haven't signed the child rights treaty of the United Nations. Please write the bush administration and ask them about this :)

Answer 8

Legal and beset with untold horror stories. One, if not both parties are suspect. Train wreck just waiting to happen, unfortunately, there's an innocent baby that is thrown on the tracks.

Answer 9

No, it's not illegal.  There are lots of people with MySpace ads, etc. soliciting for babies to adopt.

But they are setting themselves up for potential scammers, not to mention that soliciting for babies like that is pretty tacky.  Asking someone to give you their child in the same manner that you would look for a car to buy is, well, pretty unsavory from the viewpoint of an adoptee.

I wonder if these ads ever get a response?