For Hopeful Adoptive Families
A Complete Guide for Hopeful Adoptive Families
in 7 Steps
Adopting a baby through a licensed adoption agency is a life-changing journey that begins with an application, a home study, and a match with an expectant mother. We're a licensed non-profit adoption agency in Utah with 30+ years of experience, guiding adoptive families and the birth moms who choose them.
Most adults who meet their state's home study requirements can adopt a baby through a licensed agency. We welcome married couples, single adults, and LGBTQ+ families.
Typical eligibility includes age 21 or older, financial stability, clear background checks, and a state-licensed home study. Specific requirements vary by state, we walk you through every step.
The 7-Step Process
Typical timeline: 12 to 24 months from first conversation to placement.
A free intake call to ask questions, share your story, and learn if we're a fit. No commitment.
Complete our adoptive family application packet, including background information and references.
A state-licensed home study provider in your state reviews your home, finances, and family life. Typically 3 to 6 months.
Write and photograph a profile book and optional video that introduces you to expectant mothers.
Our outreach program connects you with expectant mothers who have chosen your profile. Typical wait: 9 to 18 months.
Hospital plan, legal consent, and the first days with your baby. In Utah, consent is irrevocable after the 24-hour waiting period.
Post-placement visits (typically 3 to 6 months), followed by court finalization. In Utah, finalization typically occurs within 6 months.
Timeline
Most domestic infant adoptions through A Act of Love take 12 to 24 months from application to placement. Home study typically takes 3 to 6 months. Average wait time after your profile is active: 9 to 18 months.
Read our detailed timeline →Cost
Domestic infant adoption typically ranges $30,000 to $50,000, inclusive of agency fees, home study, legal counsel, and approved birth mother support as allowed by state law.
See full cost breakdown →An adoption home study is the state-licensed evaluation that confirms an adoptive family is ready and able to provide a safe, loving home for a child. It typically includes background checks, a home visit, interviews, and a review of your finances, references, and family life.
Timeline: typically 3 to 6 months. Cost: varies by state, generally $2,000 to $4,000.
Why A Act of Love
Guiding adoptive families since 1993.
Verified reviews from families we've served.
Utah-licensed, fully compliant with H.B. 51 (2026).
Counseling, legal, medical, matching, and post-placement support.
Apply to adopt, browse waiting situations, or just talk with a counselor about where to begin.
Reviews
Stories from families who have built their home through A Act of Love.
“Act of Love is more than just an adoption agency, it's an incredible family that we felt immediately welcomed to and supported by.”
Act of Love is more than just an adoption agency, it's an incredible family that we felt immediately welcomed to and supported by as we embarked on our adoption journey. We also witnessed the same level of incredible care and support with our baby's magical birth parents, which was very important to us. Thank you!
Common Questions
To adopt through a licensed agency, you must meet your state's home study requirements, typically age 21+, financially stable, free of certain criminal history, and able to pass background checks.
Yes. Single adults and LGBTQ+ families are fully welcomed at A Act of Love and can adopt a baby on the same terms as any other qualified applicants.
Most domestic infant adoptions today are open or semi-open, meaning some level of contact with the birth family. Closed adoptions are also possible.
No. We work with adoptive families in most U.S. states. Your home study must be completed by a state-licensed provider in your home state.
Domestic infant adoption typically ranges between $30,000 and $50,000, inclusive of agency fees, home study, legal counsel, and approved birth mother support as allowed by state law.
The federal adoption tax credit is approximately $16,000 per child (adjusted annually). Claim it on IRS Form 8839 in the tax year the adoption is finalized.
Yes. Many adoptive families already have biological or previously-adopted children.
You can express preferences in your adoption plan, and matches are made accordingly, but most families are open to a range, which leads to faster matches.
Domestic infant adoption is a voluntary placement from a birth mother who chooses adoption during pregnancy. Foster care involves children in state custody, typically with reunification as the initial goal.
