If you have ever been on medication for a mental illness you will need a doctor’s letter stating that you are mentally stable. All members of the household must also be considered mentally stable by a medical professional. If you are pursuing an independent adoption, you might need to provide your attorney with this information. In the US, laws vary from state to state, but independent adoptions are typically bound by the same regulations as agency adoptions. [2] X Research source
Some criminal charges might keep you from ever adopting a child. For example, you would not be allowed to adopt with a history of child abuse.
You will also need to provide proof of comprehensive health insurance coverage.
In some cases, you might also be asked to provide letters of support from close friends or family. These letters will be a great way for you to showcase what a great parent you will be! For an independent adoption, your attorney should help you through this process.
One of the benefits of adopting a child in care is that it costs very little or nothing. A negative is that it can be a very lengthy and frustrating process. Consider adopting an older child. Most people want to adopt infants, and there are more prospective parents than there are babies. The process might move more quickly if you’re open to an older child. This path is also known as public agency adoption.
One of the benefits of private adoption is that you may be able to choose to have an open adoption. This means that you will get an opportunity to meet and spend time with the birth parents. You can all decide together whether the birth parents will play a role in the child’s life. You should know that birth parents do not actually relinquish their legal rights until after birth. This means that they could change their minds about placing the child up for adoption.
To get started, contact an attorney who has experience in this area.
Remember that when you adopt a child from another country, you’ll need to take into account possible differences in language and culture. You may or may not decide to visit the country where the child comes from before you take the child home.
You might also want to pursue a domestic adoption if you strongly prefer an infant to an older child. The domestic process makes it more likely that an infant will be placed with you.
If you are working with an agency, it is a good idea to ask them to provide you with three references from people whom they have previously helped. It is also smart to do your own research. For example, in the U. S. you can contact Adopt US Kids to learn about different state laws, the reputation of agencies, and to learn about reputable attorneys. [12] X Trustworthy Source AdoptUSKids National organization devoted to providing educational resources about adoption and the child welfare system Go to source
In many cases, someone from the agency you are working with will make at least one visit to your home. They will want to take a look at the environment where you will be bringing the child you adopt.
If you are pursuing a private adoption, your attorney will begin connecting you with potential birth parents. There’s no standard timeline that this process will follow. But it does typically take months, and oftentimes, years.
You might write down that you want to provide a child with a good home. You might also note that you feel that you are ready to love and take care of a child. Don’t adopt a child if you are doing so to try to fix another relationship in your life. Another bad reason is that you are trying to fulfill some societal expectation.
You should also talk to other family members. You want your child to be able to grow up in a loving and supportive family. Communicate your desire to adopt, and ask for their support.
Whether you will raise your child in a certain religion. What type of child care provider you will use and how much you can afford to pay. How you want your child to be educated.
Understand that many adoptions can also be financially costly.
