While looking for adoption options for your newborn baby, you might have come across something called “safe haven” laws. But what exactly are they? Safe haven adoption laws in Kansas and Missouri allow for a mother to relinquish custody of her healthy newborn baby to pre-approved safe locations and professionals without legal repercussions. Created as a response to tragedies stemming …
Does ICWA Apply to Your Adoption?
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 is a federal law designed to protect Native American families after what became a consistent pattern of removing American Indian children from their homes and placing them into foster care with non-Native families. Michael Belfonte is well-versed in ICWA as an adoption attorney for Kansas and Missouri, and he can help guide …
3 Questions You Have About Transracial Adoption in Kansas City
As you’re considering all the options available to you in adopting a child, you may wonder about transracial adoption in Kansas City — and whether it’s right for you. Transracial adoption is any adoption where the race or ethnicity of the adopted child is different from that of their adopted parents. An interracial adoption comes with all of the challenges …
How Long Does it Take to Adopt a Child in Kansas City?
There are many factors in the adoption process that can affect how long you’ll wait to have a child placed in your home — the most important of which is what adoption professional you work with. Michael Belfonte works closely with American Adoptions to help hopeful adoptive parents find an adoption opportunity. The adoption wait time will be significantly less …
17 Common Adoption Myths and the Truth Behind Them
Michael Belfonte is working to shed light on old myths about adoption and educate prospective adoptive families about what adoption really means. To speak to Michael about any questions you have or to begin the adoption process, you can contact him here. Here are few common adoption myths, and the truth about modern adoption: “I’m single/We’re not married/We’re gay — …
Common Adoption Terms You Should Know
Whether you’re a pregnant woman considering adoption or a family hoping to grow through adoption, the process can be overwhelming at first. Chances are that this is your first direct encounter with adoption, and learning about the process is one of the first steps. You’ll learn pretty quickly that adoption comes with its own jargon. And while Michael Belfonte is …
Is Open Adoption Legally Enforceable in Kansas City?
The promise of post-adoption contact can be an exciting prospect for all involved in the adoption triad. However, you may worry that the other set of parents in the adoption may not keep up their end of the agreement, which can cause disappointment and concern over the effect on the central figure of the adoption — the adopted child. Some …
How to Make a Perfect Adoption Profile Book
As a prospective adoptive family, you’re likely equally excited and nervous for the process of finding a prospective birth mother. After all, this is the moment when your adoption becomes a reality and you know that it’s only a matter of time until you become parents. However, waiting to be chosen by an expectant mother can be stressful. So, how …
Can I Get My Child Back After Adoption in Kansas City?
Sometimes, when a birth mother is unsure of her adoption decision, she wonders “Can I get my baby back after adoption?” If you’re thinking this, it’s important that you consider your reasons for choosing adoption — and decide whether it’s actually the best choice for you. If you’re asking “How can I get my child back after adoption?” you may …