Frequently Asked Questions about Adoption
Q: Is adoption expensive?
A: An adoption can be expensive, costing anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. The cost of the adoption depends on several factors, such as whether you are using an agency or adopting directly from the birth parents, adopting an infant or an older child, or adopting domestically or internationally, among other factors. There are ways to decrease the costs of adoption that may be available to you, including employer benefits, tax credits and state and federal subsidies.
Q: Can I adopt if I'm not married?
A: Yes. Single people have the same eligibility to adopt as married people. But just like married people, the court can deny an adoption if it finds the adoption isn't in the child's best interests. Also, some adoption agencies may choose not to place a child in a single parent home, so if you are considering an agency, you will want to check if it has this restriction. Even with these limits, single parent adoptions are increasing in number as courts discover single parents can provide just as loving and stable homes as married parents.
Q: May I specify the characteristics of a child I'm interested in adopting?
A: Yes. Adoptive parents may specify that they want a boy or girl, a child in a particular age range, and whether they are willing and able to adopt a child with special needs. They can specify any characteristics they want, but should keep in mind that the narrower their specifications, the longer it may take to find a child that has those characteristics.
Q: Does it take a long time to complete an adoption?
A: Usually not. Many adoptions are completed in one to two years.
Q: Are there infants available for adoption?
A: Yes. In the United States, approximately 20,000 domestically born infants are placed for adoption every year, and an estimated 10,000 foreign-born infants are adopted by US citizens.
Q: How long will I have to wait to bring home an adopted baby?
A: The wait time varies by state, but usually the waiting period is 48 hours. The birth parents are required to sign a form terminating their parental rights before the baby can be placed in the adoptive home.
Q: What if the birth parents want their child back?
A: Adoption is a legal process in which the birth parents' parental rights are terminated and the adoptive parents become the child's only legal guardians. In domestic adoptions, there is typically a waiting period during which the birth parents can revoke their agreement to have their rights terminated. In most states this is a very short period and birth parents can only reverse their consent if they can show the decision was made under duress, undue influence or because of fraud.
Q: Is it difficult to adopt a child from another country?
A: It depends. When you adopt a child from another country, you must comply with that country's laws in order to complete the adoption. Some countries have more requirements than others. For example, some countries will not allow a single parent to adopt. If you are considering adopting a child overseas, you will want to check the requirements of that country before proceeding. The US State Department has compiled a data sheet on the adoption requirements of each country. You can access it at: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_369.html.
Q: If I want to adopt a child from a foreign country, do I have to travel to that country to complete the adoption?
A: Most likely yes. Most countries require that the adoptive parents complete the adoption in their courts before returning with the child to the US. A few countries will allow you to send a third party to either complete the adoption on your behalf or take guardianship over the child and bring him or her to the US to complete the adoption.
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