Adopting in Nebraska

Adoptions in Nebraska can be done through the Nebraska Health and Human Services System (HHS) or through a private child-placing agency.

HHS does not charge adoption fees and many of their children qualify for special needs. This qualification allows some children to receive a subsidy to help with attorney fees when finalizing the adoption.

Families who want to adopt an infant will need to contact a private agency. It is very rare to find an infant who is legally free for adoption through HHS; most of their children are six years and older.

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It's important to know that infants are not legally available for adoption until the birth parents sign over their rights.

Agencies charge several fees and some of these fees are not refundable if the birth parents change their mind and decided to keep the baby. Potential adoptive families need to consider the financial cost of adoption before they sign a contract with an agency.

Some families choose to adopt an infant through agencies who work with orphanages and attorneys in other countries. This type of adoption is called International Adoption. Those who choose to adopt internationally will need to have an International Home Study prepared verses a Domestic Home Study which is required for families who adopt children in the United States.

The I-600A "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" will need to be submitted as soon as the family decides that they want to adopt internationally. When the adoption is close to being finalized, the family will then need to submit the I-600 form called "Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative". The agency will help the family submit all the required forms.

Back to the main Nebraska Adoption page.