Adoption Facilitator

Adoption facilitators are individuals who are not licensed as adoption agencies or licensed as attorneys, and who are engaged in the matching of birth parents with adoptive parents. Even though you are using an adoption facilitator, you will absolutely need an adoption attorney and/or an agency. A facilitator should never try to supplement or replace either of these adoption professionals. Facilitators primarily focus on helping couples to locate potential birth parents. They are the match makers, if you will. They also work closely with several different agencies and attorneys and can recommend several for you to interview.

In very few states, like California and Pennsylvania, Adoption Facilitators have been authorized by law to charge for their participation in adoption matching, if those services fall within certain specific parameters. Except for these few states, the laws of most states either do not allow Adoption Facilitators to conduct their business within the state at all, or Adoption Facilitators are prohibited by law from charging for any services that they perform within that state, or which they perform for or on behalf of adoptive parents who will finalize their adoptions in the courts of that state, where the all of the fees and expenses that are paid by the adoptive couple in connection with the adoption process are subject to court review and approval.

Keep in mind, an adoption facilitator such as your mother-in-law, a nurse at the hospital or a family friend who doesn't charge anything for their services is completely legal.