The adoption professional or adoption agency you hire will impact your entire adoption experience. For anybody considering adoption, it is important to understand as much as possible before you adopt a baby. With hundreds of adoption professionals available, asking the right questions can help you designate a clear path for forward movement in the process.

You will find that many questions provide you with the assistance you need to understand the process as well as to choose an adoption agency. Whether you want to adopt a baby or a child, these questions will prove helpful.

It's that time of year! Remember your favorite Valentine with a unique adoption gift that she'll treasure for a lifetime. Each purchase of an Adoption Prayer Bracelet helps women who have chosen adoption for a child! Shop at AdoptionPrayerBracelet.com for her favorite style and color today!  There are three styles of bracelets available in our shop: bangle, European, and original. The bracelets are one-of-a-kind; each bracelet is handmade and delicately engraved.

The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an important financing resource for most adoptive parents. Whether you're just starting to look into adoption, are waiting to adopt, or have recently adopted, it's smart to learn about the Adoption Tax Credit. That way, after your adoption is finalized, you'll be able to make the most of the tax credit!

The United States tax code allows for an adoption tax credit up to $14,080 per adopted child per 2019 guidelines. We understand that taxes can be confusing. Even though we're not tax professionals here at Lifetime, we wanted to share some helpful tips to get you started when you file as a new adoptive parent. Here's what you need to know about the adoption tax credit.

Did you know that many employers offer adoption benefits? Employer adoption benefits may be more than a growing trend, especially as more families seek to grow through open adoption. Employers who provide parental leave and other benefits for new parents may extend these benefits to those who are seeking to become parents through adoption.

The best way to learn about employer adoption benefits in your workplace is to speak with somebody in Human Resources. You may discover that your workplace has more benefits than you initially thought. These benefits can make adoption much more manageable for a family with limited resources!

Trust is a major issue for anybody who is thinking about adoption. For many birth parents, trusting a new couple with their precious baby can feel almost impossible. Additionally, both birth parents and adoptive parents often want to feel a sense of closure with their respective adoption journeys. For these reasons, many families like to celebrate adoption with a special entrustment ceremony.

Many find commemorating their child's transition from birth family to adoptive family to be a powerful experience. In the past, some adoptive parents would welcome a new child into their home with a "welcome home" party or baby shower. Some would hold a naming ceremony or baptism. But the entrustment ceremony carries special meaning, because it involves both of the child's families.

"My husband and I have been waiting to be chosen by a birth mother for almost two years now. Meanwhile, whenever I check the Lifetime website, I keep seeing couples matching and adopting. 

I feel like it's not fair. How did they adopt so quickly? Why them and not us?!"

Right away, Lifetime's adoption professionals can recognize couples who will adopt sooner rather than later. These couples have resolved any issues surrounding infertility, and are now focusing on their adoption. Their focus on adoption is so sharp that they're not trying to remodel their home or shop for a new car at the same time. These couples are putting all of their efforts and resources into their adoption. They're resourceful, organized, and proactive.

Keep reading to discover how you can speed up your adoption match!

Midlife is a time when many people reflect on the lives they have built for themselves and plan for the next leg of their journey. Perhaps you have embraced family life, and your children are now grown, or maybe you've focused on your career and your relationships. You, your partner, and your friends are established in your careers, and retirement is within sight. Your friends lament about being empty nesters soon, but they are excited to relax, engage in hobbies, and travel as they look ahead.

However, this vision for your future does not feel right. You still have energy and love to share with children. Whether you are a parent already, or you desire to experience parenthood for the first time, you may question if adoption is still a possibility. Prospective adoptive parents in their 40s may wonder, "Am I too old to adopt?"   

Fernando and Angela Martin had struggled with infertility since they first decided to grow their family. They came to our adoption center two years ago to explore their options, but they were not quite ready to pursue adoption. Now, several failed infertility treatments and over $50,000 later, they were ready.  

It only took a few months to locate a birth mother for Fernando and Angela. The eager-to-be adoptive parents met their potential birth mother, Janette, and they really hit it off. Janette thought Fernando and Angela were perfect, and she chose them to become parents to her unborn baby. Shortly after, this adoption took a difficult turn.  

Adopting after infertility invites even more emotional intensity into the already complex adoption process. I saw this when Angela walked into my office one afternoon, anxious and unsure. She said she needed to talk.  

“Janette’s a great person,” she said. “Very positive and outgoing.”

“I knew you’d like each other,”  I replied.

“Yes,” she hesitated. “But we’re declining her offer.”

Since 1986, the Lifetime Adoption Foundation has helped children, babies, and mothers in need. The proceeds from your household donations go directly to these families-in-crisis. Every day, the Lifetime Adoption Foundation's mission is to assist pregnant women as they learn about adoption as an option for the precious life they are carrying. Through the blessing of families like yours, the Foundation can help, care, love, and support, knowing that Lifetime adoptive families are ready with open arms to embrace both mother and her child.

As you look toward your year-end giving, please consider a gift to Lifetime Adoption Foundation to help and bless birth mothers, like the one who will choose you to parent her sweet baby. Through college scholarships and laptops, the Foundation can directly assist birth mothers as they create a better future. Your tax-deductible gift can be mailed in or made directly online at LifetimeFoundation.org.

The holidays are a time for celebration, spending time with loved ones, and making happy memories. But waiting adoptive parents might have a different experience. They may feel like they are missing something during the holidays, and it can be hard to explain to others exactly what it is. No matter when you are waiting to adopt a child, you can face ups and downs, but the holidays can make waiting feel even more difficult. I'd like to share 7 practical tips to help you deal with the stress of your adoption wait during the holidays!