Did you know that 1 in 35 children in the U.S. is adopted?
Adoption is a great way to help a child in need or grow your family.
Either way, it can be incredibly rewarding.
However, the process of adopting a child can be quite lengthy and complicated, especially if you’re new to it.
So in this article, we’ll go over the 6 Steps to Adopting a Child you need to follow to successfully adopt a child.
Here they are:
Table of Contents
Do your research
The first step is to do your research.
This could mean taking a course, reading a book, or researching online like you are now.
There’s a lot you need to determine before diving into adoption.
For example, you need to decide if you want a newborn or an older child, a domestic or international child, an open or closed adoption, and a private or foster care adoption.
On top of all that, you need to know the costs of adoption since it can be quite expensive.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, a private adoption can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000.
Choose what professionals to work with
Next, you need to choose what adoption professionals to work with.
You have two main options: an adoption agency or an adoption attorney.
Both can be great.
The main difference lies in how you go about finding the birth mother.
Agencies have pregnant mothers come to them to give up their children for adoption.
You may have a large selection of children to find the right fit.
In contrast, adoption lawyers advertise and network (along with your help) to find a birth mother.
Which you choose depends mainly on how much you want to be involved in finding the child.
Whatever you do, choose an agency or attorney that has a good amount of experience, and offers the services you need at a price that fits your budget.
And beware of scammers.
Unfortunately, there are many fake adoption services out there trying to steal your money.
Complete a home study
Eventually, you’ll be required to perform a home study. It’s mandatory for adoptions in all 50 states.
Basically, the home study is an assessment of you and your home.
A social worker will come to evaluate whether you and your partner are fit to be adoptive parents and whether your house is suitable for a child.
The caseworker will also help educate and prepare you for being an adoptive parent.
Be patient
At this point, you’ll need to be patient and wait.
It takes time for your agency or lawyer to find the right birth mother and child and go through the required legal processes.
Ask your agency or lawyer for an estimate on how long it will take as this can vary a lot by state and situation (usually it takes around 3 to 6 months at least).
In some cases, the birth mother will want to meet you to approve of you as adoptive parents.
If all parties agree, things can move forward. You’ll also find that open adoptions are encouraged more these days.
Prepare your home
In the meantime, you’ll want to prepare your home for your new child.
The age of the child will determine what types of things you need to get.
If it’s a baby, you’ll need to invest in a car seat, crib, stroller, diapers, baby food, etc.
If it’s an older child, you may need to focus more on clothes, toys, and school supplies.
No matter how old the child is, you should strive to make your home feel as welcoming and safe as possible.
After all, this is a major change for them. So you should try to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Finalize the adoption
At last, it’s time to finalize the adoption.
Once the child is placed with you, you’ll have them for about six months as the adoption is finalized.
During this time, social workers may visit your home to make sure all is going well and to write court reports.
Eventually, the adoption agency or lawyer will submit a written recommendation of approval to the court.
Once approve, you’re officially a parent to a new child!
Of course, complications may arise during the process, but with the right adoption agency or lawyer on your side, you will have a better chance of everything running more smoothly.
