Pact, An Adoption Alliance - Understanding Pact's Documents

Understanding Pact's Documents

Intent To Adopt Or Place:

When birth parents (or parent) and adoptive parents (or parent) choose to make an adoption plan for a specific child, Pact will create a document to formalize their intentions, which will be signed by all parties. The Intent to Adopt or Place document is not legally binding. Its purpose is to document that the birth parents intend to place their child with these particular adoptive parents and that the adoptive parents intend to adopt this particular child. All parties will keep copies of this document.

Adoption Plan:

This document will provide a list of names, addresses and phone numbers for all parties to the adoption and will outline the responsibilities that Pact will fulfill.

Hospital Preferences:

Pact will help the birth mother understand the choices she will be given regarding her preferences for labor and delivery. Her choices will be documented and copies of this document will be sent to the hospital social worker, to the adoptive and birth parents and to any other relevant professionals who might need them.

Adoption Status Reports:

Pact will prepare a list of responsibilities and deadlines for tasks that should be completed during the course of the adoption. The adoptive parents, birth parents and Pact will share responsibility for tracking and completing these items.

The Memo of Understanding:

No sooner than three weeks after the placement, Pact will discuss any changes the adoptive parents and birth parents may want to suggest regarding their plans for ongoing contact. When consensus is reached among all parties, Pact will create a formal memo of understanding to define the arrangements and expectations to which the parents have agreed. This document is not legally binding. Its purpose, then, is to provide a record of the good-faith agreements reached among an adoption's participants and to provide the child with a record demonstrating that all parents worked together to create a plan in the child's best interests. The document will be signed by adoptive parents and birth parents, with copies kept by all parties.