Can a Friend or Family Member Adopt My Baby in Indiana

By: Grant Kirsh

Sometimes a birth mother already knows who she wants to raise her baby. Maybe a close friend has always wanted children. Maybe a relative has offered. Or maybe a friend has asked you to adopt her baby, and you are wondering whether you should say yes.

These situations, where the birth mother and the adoptive family already know each other, are called identified or direct placement adoptions, and they are absolutely possible in Indiana. At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we have handled many of them over nearly 50 years. We are a family-run Indiana law firm, and we can guide you through it.

Can I Just Give My Baby to My Best Friend?

Even when you know and trust the person who will raise your baby, adoption is still a legal process in Indiana. You cannot simply hand your baby over informally and consider it done. For your child’s security, the adoptive family’s legal protection, and your own peace of mind, the adoption must go through the proper legal steps.

The good news is that when you already have a family in mind, the process can be wonderful. You still get all the legal protections, and you get the comfort of knowing exactly who is raising your child.

Why Use an Attorney If We Already Know Each Other?

Because the legal side still has to be done correctly. Consent has to be signed properly under Indiana law. The birth father’s rights have to be addressed. The adoption has to be finalized in court. If any of these steps is mishandled, it can create serious problems down the road, even between people who trust each other.

An experienced Indiana adoption attorney makes sure everything is done right, so the adoption is secure and cannot be challenged later. This protects everyone, including the relationship between you and the family.

My Friend Is Pregnant. How Do I Talk to Her About Adoption?

If you have a pregnant friend who is struggling and you think adoption might help her, approach the conversation with love and zero pressure. Let her know you care about her, not just the baby. Share that adoption is a loving option, that there are wonderful families waiting, and that organizations like ours offer free, no-pressure information.

The most helpful thing you can do is gently let her know that help is available and that she has options. Then let her make her own choice. You can even share our contact information with her.

My Friend Asked Me to Adopt Her Baby. Should I?

This is a big and beautiful question. If a friend has asked you to adopt her newborn, and you are considering it, we can help you understand what is involved legally and make sure the adoption is done properly. There are real legal steps, and you want to be protected as the adoptive parent. We would be glad to walk you through what it would take.

We Handle Identified Adoptions With Care

Whether you are a birth mother who wants a specific family to raise your baby, or someone who has been asked to adopt, we can help. Our services are structured to protect everyone involved, and for birth mothers, our services are 100% free.

Whether you are in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Fishers, Bloomington, Hammond, Gary, Muncie, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Kokomo, Anderson, or Greenwood, we are here to help.

Call or text us at 800-333-5736. Visit us at IndianaAdoption.com. Everything is free and confidential.

About the Author
Grant Kirsh is a second-generation adoption attorney and owner of Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., a family law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana that has been serving Indiana families since 1981. Grant graduated from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2013 and has personally handled nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions and his law firm has handled over 5,000 private newborn adoptions. He practices all forms of domestic adoption, with a deep personal commitment to expectant mothers considering adoption in Indiana and Indiana’s foster care system and the families and children it serves.