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Private Domestic Adoption Adoption in Canada comes under provincial jurisdiction, which means that the laws vary from one province to the next. Some provinces are flexible, others are not. Listing all the rules and regulations province by province would require a separate website, one that would need to be updated on an ongoing basis since that's how often the laws themselves seem to change. The key to a successful private adoption is to find out everything you can about your province's restrictions and limitations regarding:
In many cases, adopting from another province is possible. It simply adds an extra layer to the process since in addition to meeting the requirements governing adoption in your province, you need to meet the laws of the province in which your baby lives or is born. But this isn't something you need to worry about now. Your licensee or agency can explain all the legalities in more detail when the time comes. For the time being, bear in mind that despite all
the legal barriers and obstacles that exist in Canada today, prospective
adoptive parents and birth parents find their way around them every day.
And with a little bit of patience, perserverance and luck, you can too.
The
Process Here are some of the steps you'll need to go through:
Time Line
Like many people, you may choose to search for your child yourself, but have an agency finalize the adoption or conduct the home study for you. Whatever route you take, eventually you'll need to get your adoption finalized by an adoption licensee, whether s/he works independently or through an agency. In fact, that's where most of your fees will go -- to cover legal and administrative costs. Depending on where your birth mother lives, there may also be some travelling and lodging expenses involved. Remember, the birth mother does not get paid for the placement nor is she allowed to receive any kind of incentive, gift, financial inducement or compensation for making her decision. You can't even buy her a cup of coffee or flowers at the hospital. Also remember that as the prospective adoptive parents,
you will be responsible for covering all of the birth mother's and father's
counselling fees, whether or not they decide to go through with the adoption.
So make sure you're confident of your choice of birth parents. Advantages As a result of your open relationship with your child's parents, your child's heritage will never be in doubt. You -- and eventually, s/he -- will know who his/her parents were and how s/he came to be part of your family. This will be important later when your child grows up and starts asking questions about his identity. Besides being medically less risky than an overseas adoption, a private domestic adopion could be less expensive as well. In the end, it will all hinge on:
If you live in a province where advertising is permitted,
you also have the option of having more control over the process and in
facing a potentially shorter waiting period. Disadvantages Nobody knows exactly how many birth mothers in Canada place their newborns for adoption each year. It's been said that we keep better track of our used cars than we do of our children. The number is thought to be in the hundreds rather than in the thousands, with the lion's share -- 300 to 400 -- originating in Ontario. If you really want to be a parent and you're not prepared to wait, then this isn't the route for you. International adoption is. Then again, don't get too discouraged. Sure, there may not be many birth mothers available. But remember, all you need is one to start a family. The other major risk is, of course, that the birth mother could change her mind and decide to raise her baby herself. There are restrictions as to when she can do this, but for many hopeful parents that's not enough of a safeguard. In fact, many people feel uncomfortable about going through an open adoption and knowing that their child will have another set of parents. And lastly, as with any baby, there's no guarantee
that yours won't have health problems. Ten Common Mistakes Adoptive Parents Make When Adopting Privately in Canada
Adoptive Parents | Birth Parents | Adopting in Canada | Waiting Parents Registry | Our Services | Discuss Adoption Contact Us: info@canadaadopts.com |
Apart
from a few differences, the private domestic adoption process has much
in common with the public one. The key difference is that in private adoption
the wait for a healthy newborn is much shorter and prospective adoptive
couples (and birth mothers) have much more control over the process than
with 
A
home study could be completed in three to six months. If everything is
in place, the processing of the adoption could be done in a few months
as well. In terms of the wait, the biggest question mark will be the search.
For some waiting parents, finding a birth mother could take just a couple
of days. For others, it could take months or even years. Then again, it
may not happen at all. Luck definitely plays a role but remember, in adoption
you make your own luck. 
Going
down more than one road at a time -- say, signing up with an agency and
an online service like Canada Adopts! -- will add to your costs, but it
will also increase your chances of finding a child.
