I Want to Give My Child Away Temporarily in Missouri [Adoption vs. Guardianship]

You may be considering temporary adoption in Missouri, but adoption is never temporary. If you are looking to place your child with another family temporarily, then you may benefit from considering legal guardianship.

It is important for you to understand the difference between wanting to place your child with a family short-term and wanting to give your child a new home through adoption. American Adoptions of Missouri can help you do two things for your child through adoption that will be permanent:

1. Find a safe and loving, waiting adoptive family for your child

2. Provide you with licensed adoption professionals to help you terminate your parental rights

The adoption process is final and can only be revoked by the court system if they decide it is in the child’s best interest. This may seem harsh and final, but when you know that adoption is right for you and your baby then it can put birth parent’s mind’s at ease and provide them with peace of mind for their child’s future. If you are considering permanent adoption for your child, you can contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with an adoption specialist.

If you’re not sure about permanent adoption, let’s talk about your temporary guardianship options.

I Want to “Give My Child Away” Temporarily in Missouri

If you are struggling to raise your child in a stable and healthy environment, you may be looking for a short-term option for your child’s care. In Missouri, temporary adoption is known as legal guardianship and there are important differences between the two processes. Here’s what you can expect when you choose legal guardianship in Missouri:

Step 1: You must choose relatives or friends who agree to take care of your child temporarily.

When you talk to your family or friends, you can let them know that you would like for them to care for your child short-term because you still want to raise your child later. You both must agree on the temporary period of time which can be days, months or years.

Step 2: It is important for you to complete a guardianship petition with the court clerk.

You can find your court clerk in the county where your child lives. The guardianship petition will ask you identifying details about you and your child and the reason why you are choosing to place your child with a family member or friend for temporary guardianship. This also includes collection of medical records, home visits and background checks to ensure that your child will be in a safe environment.

Step 3: Once all required documents are complete, you must submit them to the court clerk.

After the clerk reviews your guardianship petition, a court hearing will be scheduled. During the hearing, the court will decide if your guardianship petition is approved. Once approved, you will receive a guardianship order to place your child with your chosen relative or friend temporarily.

This process must be completed with the court clerk in the county in Missouri where your child lives. Legal guardianship cannot be completed by an adoption agency because this is not a permanent adoption process. You can contact your local county clerks’ office for more information on legal guardianship.

What You Need to Know about Temporary Adoption in Missouri [Why Adoption is Not Temporary]

The differences between adoption and guardianship can seem confusing, but we can help you learn the difference. Unlike legal guardianship, adoption can be completed by a licensed adoption agency. Our adoption agency specializes in newborn adoptions, and we work hard to help prospective birth parents find permanent homes for their baby.

Adoption is not a temporary act because after adoption placement your child will permanently live with a different family. Your child will have a home with their adoptive parents who will have full, legal parental rights to your child. Let’s take a look at what you can expect during the permanent adoption process in Missouri.

Step 1: You must work with adoption professionals, such as a social worker and adoption attorney.

With American Adoptions, you get adoption support from our trusted adoption professionals at every step of your adoption process. These professionals must be licensed by the state of Missouri so that your adoption is safe and ethical.

Step 2: Find your baby’s adoptive parents who will provide your child with their forever home.

Our waiting adoptive families are looking to bring a child into their homes and into their lives permanently. They desire the opportunity to give and receive a lifetime of love as your child’s legal parents. When you choose your child’s parents, keep in mind that they will raise your child and be the best possible parents that they can be.

Step 3: Once you voluntarily sign your adoption paperwork for consent, your child’s adoptive parents will bring your child home.

The adoption paperwork for consent is the termination of your parental rights, which means you are no longer your child’s legal parent. You will not be able to raise your child because the adoptive parents that you chose for your baby have become their legal parents.

Prospective Birth parents choose adoption when they don’t have the means to raise their child or if they don’t want to be parents right now. Adoption provides the stability of a home and parents that are ready and willing to raise a child. If you believe that adoption is the best option for you and your child, you can call us at 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with an adoption specialist today. You can also contact us online for more free adoption information.

Permanent Adoption vs. Temporary Guardianship [Which is Best for You]

There is no right or wrong reason to choose permanent adoption or temporary guardianship. If you need help deciding which option is right for you, we have create a list of pros and cons to help you think about how permanent adoption or temporary guardianship can affect you and your child’s future.

Let’s start with pros and cons for permanent adoption:

Permanent Adoption
PROS	CONS
Peace of mind in knowing you chose the best family for your baby	Loss and grief — while you will have access to free adoption counseling, it takes time to heal and move forward from the adoption grief process
Open adoption allows you to see your child grow up	Legal rights to your child are terminated after adoption consent
Knowing that your child is in a safe and loving home	If you choose a closed adoption, you may not get to see your child grow or get to know their adoptive family.
Financial freedom to focus on yourself and your future	Potential conflict with the father, family and friends if they don’t support your adoption decision

On the other hand, temporary guardianship may appeal to you for different reasons. Keep in mind, after your legal guardianship terms have expired, you will be responsible for raising your child.

Here is a list of pros and cons for legal guardianship:

Legal Guardianship
PROS	CONS
You maintain all your legal parental rights to your child	You must continue parenting when your short-term placement agreement comes to an end
You get the time that you need to seek help for your situation	It can be difficult and stressful to return to a daily parenting routine
You choose who you want to be your child’s guardian	Your relationship with your child’s guardian could change

No one can tell you if temporary guardianship or permanent adoption is better for you in your situation. Once you have reviewed the pros and cons of both, you can benefit from contacting friends and family who may be able to support you in your situation. You can also contact the Missouri Department of Social Services for Temporary Assistance.

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