Adopt a Child in the District of Columbia

Adoptions Together has been worked as a nonprofit licensed adoption agency in Washington, D.C. since 1996. During this time, our counselors have worked with hundreds of parents who are considering placing a child for adoption and helped over 1,000 District residents build their families through adoption.

Overview of Washington, D.C. Adoption Law

In the District of Columbia, children can be adopted either with the assistance of a licensed adoption agency or through a direct parental placement. Adoptions Together is a licensed, nonprofit, private child placement agency in District of Columbia, so we follow the law and procedures relating to adoption from a licensed adoption agency.

A birth parent who wishes to place his or her child for adoption with the help of a licensed agency executes a relinquishment of parental rights and entrusts to the agency. The relinquishment terminates the birth parents’ parental rights and authorizes the agency to place the child for adoption. The relinquishment is filed with the Court. After the child has been placed with the adoptive parents for a minimum of 6 months, the adoptive parents may file a petition with the court to finalize the adoption and request that the agency give its consent to the adoption.