Adoption is the ultimate "win-win" solution to two painful problems. Adoption is a legal process that gives adoptive parents rights and responsibilities and the adoptive child social, legal and emotional rights as a family member.
You undoubtedly know someone who is adopted. There are somewhere between 6 and 10 million adopted people in the U.S.
I Want to Adopt. Where Do I Start?
About 120,000 children are adopted by U.S. citizens every year. Approximately half of those are adoptions by people biologically unrelated to the child. The other adoptions are by grandparents, step parents, or other family members.
Where you need to start is by doing a thorough soul searching assessment. Adoption is a serious and life altering step. It alters not only your life, but that of a vulnerable child as well. You need to think clearly about what kind, age, race and level of health you require in a child you want to bring into your family.
You need to be brutally honest with yourself if you would be unable to fully and unconditionally love a child of another race, country or with discipline or health problems.
Will I Qualify as an Adoptive Parent?
A child doesn't need "perfect" parents and adoption agencies don't make unreasonable requirements. You will not be automatically disqualified if you are single, divorced, parenting other children, or because you have a disability. You do not have to own your own home. You do not have to be wealthy or highly educated.
You do have to be able to prove you can care for a child and provide a good, safe living environment. You do need to have tons of love available. A half-ton of patience would help, too.
If you are trying to adopt an infant, especially a Caucasian infant, you may find additional restrictions because of such a high demand. If you are interested in adopting a Native American child and are not yourself a Native American, you may be disqualified.
There are more than 700 private agencies in the United States who place children from other countries for adoption by U.S. citizens. A few countries allow prospective adoptive parents to work through attorneys in addition to agencies.
How Long Will It Take?
Before you contact an agency or an attorney you need to do your homework and educate yourself about the way adoption works. Find out the facts about waiting times experienced and additional restrictions some agencies place on prospective adoptive parents of Caucasian infants.
Learn about the opportunities in adoptions for children with "special needs." Take your time, from 1 to 3 months. Meet an adoptive support group. This is one of the biggest decisions in your life. Take another 3-6 months to make your decision.
The full process is likely to take 2-3 years, and this time spent in the beginning will pay off later, because you will be sure of your decision and will have thought through the answers to all the questions likely to come up in the application process and home evaluation.
How Much Will It Cost?
* The good news is there are programs to help defray the expense of adoption. The Federal Adoption Tax Credit was $10,630 in 2005. Don't assume the cost is out of reach. In many cases it is pretty close to the costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
* 50% of respondents to a recent survey said their adoption expense was under $15,000 while 40% spent between $20,000 and $30,000.
* Many employers have benefits associated with adoption such as loans, family leave, and health benefits.
There are literally hundreds of websites with excellent information about adoption.
Don't forget there are also unscrupulous people in the world, trafficking in children for adoption and defrauding unsuspecting, needy adoptive parents. Don't let yourself and/or your new child become a victim of a scam. Do your homework and know the details, so you'll be able to recognize when something "just doesn't seem right."
Whether you're a loving step parent eager to establish your child's legal rights as part of your family for purposes of inheritance and other legal issues, or whether you are an infertile couple with love overflowing you hearts, find out all the facts BEFORE you get tangled up in the application process. You'll be glad you did.
With all the various types of government auctions and sales, it is up to the buyer to determine his or her choice of the method used to try to obtain the property available at a government auction.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. The material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be regarded as medical or legal advice or consultation. Contact a trustworthy medical or legal practitioner if you are in need of medical or legal counsel.
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