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How Long Does it Take to Adopt a Newborn?

Most families working with American Adoptions of Texas bring their baby home in an average of 12 months.

Choosing a licensed, national agency with a large Texas presence helps you bring your baby home much faster than working with a small, local professional.

We are here to handle the legal paperwork and the emotional highs and lows so you can focus on getting your nursery ready.

If you are ready to take the first step toward your child, fill out our online form to get the specialized support you need to start your journey.

How Long Does It Take to Adopt a Newborn in Texas?

When you start looking into how long it takes to adopt a newborn, it is helpful to learn about adoption wait times so you can set realistic expectations for your own journey in Texas.

While most of our families finish the process in about a year, your specific adoption process timeline depends on several factors:

  • The professional you choose

    Because larger agencies have bigger marketing budgets, they usually provide more adoption opportunities than smaller local firms.

  • Your specific preferences

    Families who are open to a wider range of situations often see the shortest adoption wait times compared to those with very narrow requirements.

  • Legal requirements

    Every case in the state must follow the Texas Family Code, which dictates how and when parental rights are terminated.

What Factors Affect Your Adoption Wait Time?

The two biggest drivers of your adoption wait time are your openness to different situations and how well your agency reaches expectant parents. To have a successful experience, you should consider:

  • Your Openness: Your Adoption Planning Questionnaire (APQ) defines what you are comfortable with, and being flexible with your preferences is the best way to help you adopt a baby sooner than you might otherwise.
  • Marketing Reach: This is often the "missing link" in long waits, as many local agencies have limited budgets and reach fewer expectant mothers.

The Newborn Adoption Timeline in Texas

The adoption process timeline is made of several distinct stages, each with its own legal and practical requirements. You can view our domestic adoption timeline to see how these steps usually flow:

A Texas social worker reviews your home and background to ensure your family is ready for a child.

This is the time between being "active" and being chosen by an expectant mother.

In Texas, legal consent cannot be signed until at least 48 hours after birth (Texas Family Code § 161.103).

A social worker will visit your home periodically to ensure everyone is adjusting well before the final hearing.

How to Speed Up the Adoption Process

If you find yourself thinking, "I want to adopt right away," there are practical ways to shorten your adoption wait by being prepared with your requirements. While no one can guarantee a specific date, you can move faster by:

  • Completing Your Home Study Early: Getting your paperwork finished quickly makes you eligible for "stork drop" situations where a baby needs a home immediately.
  • Expansion of Your APQ: Being open to different medical histories or racial backgrounds is the best way to see the shortest adoption wait times.
  • Paperwork Efficiency: When your specialist asks for a document, returning it immediately keeps your file moving without unnecessary delays.
  • Agency Size: Working with a national agency with a proven reach gives you the best chance to adopt a baby now because they work with more expectant mothers.

What “Waiting” Really Looks Like for Adoptive Families

The wait is often the hardest part of the journey, but "waiting" doesn't have to mean sitting idle while you hope for a match.

You can find support for waiting families through national resources that help you focus on education and nursery preparation.

Every family’s wait looks different, but staying focused on the goal of bringing your baby home helps you get through the quiet moments and keeps your spirits up as you prepare for the life-changing call.

Why Some Families Wait Longer Than Others

It can be tough to see some families match quickly while others wait longer, but this often comes down to the reach of the adoption professional.

 Many local agencies do not have the dedicated birth mother marketing that we do, and understanding these common reasons for delays can help you choose the right partner from the start.

Because we have a massive reach, we can offer more opportunities, which helps prevent the long, multi-year waits often found at smaller firms.

How a Private Texas Adoption Agency Can Shorten Wait Times

Our extensive birth mother marketing ensures you have more opportunities to be chosen, while our 24/7 support leads to stable, high-quality matches.

We know the Texas legal system inside and out, and we’re ready to help you move forward with heart and expertise. If you are ready to start your life as a parent, we are ready to help you get there.

Your future family is waiting—call us today at 1-800-ADOPTION to find out how we can help you bring your baby home or get in touch with us online.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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