Whether you are a woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or hopeful parents considering adoption, you’ve come to the right place because adoption changes lives in the most beautiful way. Adoption in Columbia, Mo., can be a beautiful and life-changing process, and American Adoptions is here to help facilitate this process.

You might find yourself wondering:

• Who can you work with?

• How do you start the process?

• How do you find an adoption opportunity?

• Do you need a lawyer?

This guide to adoption in Columbia, Mo., will give you the information you need to confidently take your next step.

Columbia Adoption Agencies

An adoption agency guides you through the complicated steps of the adoption process, ensuring that everything is done according to laws and regulations so that you can successfully complete the adoption. Beyond logistical support, adoption agencies also provide counseling and guidance on this emotional roller coaster. Working with the right agency is vital to your adoption in Columbia.

There’s a brighter future ahead. Whether that means starting your family or giving your baby an amazing life through adoption, you can find confidence and peace by working with American Adoptions — a Columbia adoption agency with more 25 years of service as a full-service, fully licensed national adoption agency.

Our services are aplenty, but a few notable ones are:

• 24/7 counseling for birth parents. Unplanned pregnancies can be overwhelming, and our adoption counselors are here to help you navigate these emotions and make sure you know about all of the options available to you.

• Matching services. We assist prospective birth parents in finding the perfect adoptive parents and helping adoptive parents advertise themselves and connect with potential adoption opportunities.

• Financial assistance to prospective birth parents throughout the adoption process. For expectant birth parents, you will not pay a dime for adoption, and we will provide as much financial assistance as we can.

Because of our national scope, American Adoptions is able to provide these services and more, along with other benefits not commonly found at other adoption agencies in Columbia — things like financial protection for adoption disruptions, shorter adoption wait times, and 24/7 support and counseling for expectant birth mothers considering adoption.

“Just trust the professionals because, for us, they did everything right. It could not have gone better for us,” Sarah, an adoptive mother, said of her American Adoptions experience.

You don’t have to sacrifice the convenience and Midwestern hospitality you might expect from a smaller, local agency either — American Adoptions is fully licensed in Missouri, and our national offices are located just a short drive away in the suburbs of Kansas City. That means we’re able to guide you through every step of your Columbia adoption process, including the Missouri home study. Our offices are conveniently located at: 

7500 W. 110th St.
Suite 500
Overland Park, KS 66210

For more information about how American Adoptions can help you pursue a Columbia adoption, call 1-800-ADOPTION.

Columbia Adoption Home Study Providers

There are two ways the adoption process can go: You can anxiously bounce back and forth between professionals, never sure who to call, or you can have one go-to source for all your adoption needs.

American Adoptions is a licensed full-service adoption agency that provides efficient home study services for families throughout the entire state of Missouri. As a national domestic adoption agency with over 30 years of experience, American Adoptions ensures you do not face unnecessary delays while you receive the personal attention, support, and expertise you deserve. Follow this link to learn more about our home study services in Missouri.

This service makes your Columbia adoption preparation as seamless as possible, as you won’t need to contact a separate home study provider for this crucial step. Every home study is different but usually consists of:

• Background checks

• Interviews

• Home visits

• Review of important financial documents|

We are also able to provide Missouri home study services for families who are adopting independently or working with another agency for placement. You can request more information about the Missouri adoption home study here.

Columbia Adoption Attorneys

As you advance in the adoption process, you’ll need an attorney to help you navigate the legal aspects. A few adoption attorneys in the Columbia area are:

• Columbia Family Law Group

• The Bender Law Firm

• The Law Office of Kline and Young

If you work with American Adoptions throughout the process, your legal counsel will be coordinated for you by your adoption specialist — so you won’t need to worry about contacting a Columbia adoption attorney independently. We work with the best adoption lawyers in Columbia and across the country, so no matter where your adoption takes place, you’ll have access to our trusted legal network — and can rest assured that your adoption is being completed to the highest legal standards.

If you’re an expectant birth parent, you will never have to pay for your own attorney. All of your attorney fees will be paid through the financial assistance we provide birth parents.

Foster Care Adoption in Columbia

American Adoptions is able to provide all of the services prospective birth parents and adoptive families need for a private domestic adoption, but there is more than one way to build a family. If you’re interested in foster parenting or adopting an older child through foster care, here are a few Columbia resources that might be able to help:

• Missouri Department of Social Services

• The Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association

• Missouri Heart Gallery

Columbia International Adoption Agencies

A third adoption option for families is international adoption. While it is not as common or straightforward as it once was, this type of adoption in Columbia can still be possible when you work with a trusted international agency.

If you’re a Columbia couple who would prefer to adopt from overseas, there are a few agencies in your area that may be able to help. Keep in mind that different agencies work with different countries, so choosing where you’d like to adopt from before choosing an agency may be helpful.

• Nightlight Christian Adoptions

• Holt International

• All Blessings International

Columbia Hospitals

One of the most emotional days for prospective birth mothers and adoptive families is the day when they get to meet their child in the hospital. The hospital will be chosen by the prospective birth mother when she creates her adoption plan. If you’re pursuing adoption in Columbia, you can expect this event to take place at one of the following locations:

• University Hospital

• Boone Hospital

• MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital

• Landmark Hospital

As a company with a vast amount of personal experience with adoption, we understand that being able to have control over your own hospital plan and birth plan can be a source of comfort during a time when there might be a lot of uncertainty. While you get to call the shots, your adoption specialist will coordinate everything on your behalf, including notifying the hospital of the adoption.

Columbia Adoption Court System

If you’re completing an adoption in Columbia, your finalization hearing will take place in the 13^th Judicial Circuit of Missouri, which serves Boone and Callaway Counties. This is the day you’ve been waiting for when your child legally becomes yours, so remember to bring a camera!

For expectant birth parents, you will never have to appear in court. Only the prospective adoptive parents will need to appear in court for the adoption finalization.

Columbia Tourist Attractions

Columbia, Missouri, is a college town whose main attraction is the state’s flagship university, the University of Missouri. However, this doesn’t mean you have to be a college kid to have fun. If you’ve got some time to kill in Columbia while you wait for adoption proceedings, don’t miss the following attractions:

• Francis Quadrangle

• Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

• Stephens Lake Park

• Shelter Gardens

• Shryocks Callaway Farms

• Columbia Art League

To learn more about placing a baby for adoption or adopting in Columbia, you can get your free information at any time. 

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.