AboutColleen Expertise I can answer questions about the adoption process. I don't handle questions about searches for adoptive parents.
Experience I have three adopted children. The two youngest were adopted as infants. In both cases, we dealt with the birthmother during her pregnancy and a bit afterwards. Our children are now old enough to begin asking questions and we are dealing with those issues.
Expert: Colleen Date: 7/4/2008 Subject: Adopting my baby to my brother
Question I'm about 8 months pregnant and i want to adopt my baby to my brother and his wife. They are not able to have children and they really want to do this. I am only 19 and am in no means to take care of a child. The problem is, I have no clue who the father is. I don't remember sleeping with anyone around the time that this baby would have been conceived. Do you have any tips for me on how to go about the adoption process. I live in Oklahoma.
Answer It is very wise of you to realize you cannot raise a child at this time in your life. Too many teens think it's easy, but holding a sweet little bundle is not what parenting is all about.
Your brother and his wife need to contact an adoption attorney to begin the adoption process. If you are unsure who the father is, there are legal steps that can be taken, which your attorney would be familiar with. Although I also live in Oklahoma, I am not familiar with the adoption laws here because I adopted my children when I lived in another state, but I do know each state has a procedure to follow in this instance. Good luck to you and your brother!
