Adoptive Parent FAQs

Prospective parents must be at least 21 years old, with at least one parent 45 years old or younger. The other parent cannot be older than 50. Couples must maintain legal marital status for a minimum of two years. At least one parent must be a U.S. citizen.

Although we are affiliated with Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, you do not need to be Catholic to adopt through us. However, we ask that you uphold gospel values and instill dedication to God in your parenting.

All prospective adoptive parents must have an approved home study completed and reviewed annually until the placement of the child. Upon placement, quarterly post-placement assessments will be completed as part of the home study process until the adoption has been completed (generally around six months).

Birth mothers are eligible for the following expenses paid by the potential adoptive parents:

• Medical expenses not covered by insurance for the mother and baby.
• During the pregnancy and 90 days after surrender, the birth mother may receive payment for the following reasonable and actual expenses: housing, utilities, transportation, maternity clothes, and food.
• If the birth mother requests counseling, the pre-adoptive parents are required to pay for counseling for up to two years. Counseling may occur during or after the birth of the child.
• If the birth mother requests her own attorney, the pre-adoptive parents must pay for her to have an attorney.

Adoptions are filed with the Chancery or Circuit Court in the county where you reside. Adoptive parents are responsible for attorney fees and all court costs associated with their adoption. Tennessee state law requires that the birth mother or legal birth father wait at least 48 hours after the child is born or after the mother leaves the hospital before consenting to adoption. Consent may be revoked within the first three days of execution. Consent must occur in the presence of a judge under oath.

We assist birth parents in finding potential adoptive couples who reflect the wishes they have for the child's future. We show birth parents your profile (bio). They may or may not choose to meet you. If the birth mother selects you and you agree to adopt her child, it is a "match"!