So you’ve decided to adopt a child, but you know you’re only at the beginning of what is sure to be a long and difficult process. Of course, the adoption process has its ups and downs, but what you are most concerned about are the requirements you have to fulfill.
Through research, you certainly have found that the adoption process is complicated, with laws that vary by state and type of adoption. Understanding the requirements of an adoption will make things run a bit more smoothly when it comes time to officially start the adoption process. The following adoption requirements to adopt a baby should help you navigate the rest of the process as you go along.
Adoption Requirements to Adopt a Baby
Though adoption requirements vary depending on where you’re adopting from, there are some basic requirements you can count on for most adoptions. Following these requirements can set the stage for the rest of your adoption journey, making it incredibly important that you follow each of the rules carefully and comply with all requests from your agency (or other adoption entity you are using).
What Are The Age Requirements To Adopt A Baby?
For domestic and international adoptions, the age of the prospective parents must be legal age, which is 21 years or older. In Utah there is usually no age cutoff, meaning you can adopt a child as long as you are 21 or over. Typically for private and independent adoptions, the Birth Mother or Birth Parents select the Adoptive Family and some may have an age preference while others will not. For international adoptions, there may be age cutoffs depending on the country.
What Are The Medical Health Requirements To Adopt?
Stable medical health is necessary for prospective Adoptive Parents to adopt a baby. If one or both of the parents have a history of a chronic illness or are currently experiencing a serious illness, a letter from their primary physician is needed stating that they are physically stable and able to parent until the child turns at least 16 years old. Other issues, such as a history of substance abuse, may result in need for rehabilitation. All members of the household must prove that they are also physically stable.
What Are The Emotional Health Requirements To Adopt?
Stable emotional health is incredibly important for prospective Adoptive Parents. If one or both parents have a current psychiatric illness, or if there is a history of such an illness, a professional statement vouching for their emotional stability is required. A doctor’s statement indicating stability and ability to parent is also needed if there is, or was, medication use. All additional household members must also be emotionally stable in order for the home to be considered safe for the adoptive child.
What Are The Child Abuse Clearance Requirements To Adopt?
Any household members over the age of 18 must undergo a child abuse clearance process for every U.S. state. If anything is found, it most likely will prevent adoption all together. For international adoption, the process is the same, but varies with each country.
Will A Criminal History Prevent Me From Adopting A Baby?
A requirement of the adoption home study and both state and FBI clearances will be conducted for criminal history. If an arrest history is found, you will need to provide personal statements of the incident as well as dispositions. Rehabilitation will then be evaluated if needed. In some cases, certain criminal charges may prevent adoption all together.
What Are The Marital Requirements To Adopt?
For private newborn adoptions in Utah, some adoption professionals may have a marriage requirement. For foster care adoption in the Utah, there are no marriage requirements. For international adoptions, marriage requirements will vary depending on the country. Single parents are asked to name a guardian who would step in as the parent should the adoptive parent be unable to continue to fulfill that responsibility. Some adoption agencies also require the naming of the guardian in a will.
What Are The Financial Requirements To Adopt A Baby?
Though an income requirement is not usually specified, you will have to undergo an assessment to prove that you have the resources necessary to raise a child. The assessment will look over your income and assets, as well as proof of medical insurance. You will also need to make sure you have funds available for your adoption journey for expenses such as your adoption professional’s service fees, travel and Birth Mother expenses.
What Are The Residency Requirements To Adopt?
Some states have residency requirements for Adoptive Parents which can range from 60 days to 1 year. Some will have exceptions for residency requirements if an Adoptive Parent is a member of the military or if they are looking to adopt a child with special needs.
What Are The Home Environment Requirements To Adopt A Child?
A home study will determine whether or not the home is a safe, secure place for a child to live. Requirements may vary depending upon each state’s own safety requirements and some countries may request proof of ownership of the home. The prospective Adoptive Parent may need to provide references regarding their interpersonal relationships and interactions, if any, with children. The references can be singles or couples. Some adoption agencies allow references from family members. During the adoption home study and any agency applications, you will be asked to discuss your adoption and parenting plan. You need to live in a safe, well-maintained home, in a neighborhood conducive to family life. States differ on the requirement to have a separate bedroom for a child.
What Are The Adoption And Parenting Education Requirements To Adopt?
Some agencies will ask prospective parents to complete Adoptive Parent Education. This includes going over everything from the lifelong implications of adoption on the child and family, bonding and attachment, sharing adoption with the child and others, open or closed adoption, medical issues, academic issues, and emotional and developmental issues. International Adoptive Parents and foster care parents are often required to complete pre-adoption training
Why the Adoption Process is So Tough
The adoption process for Adoptive Parents is tough because adoption agencies, professionals, states and countries want to ensure that the child is going to a safe place. The child’s safety and wellbeing are of the utmost importance, making the extra requirements incredibly necessary. If you fail to comply with one or more of these requirements, you may lose your eligibility to adopt in your state or elsewhere.
Researching Adoption by State and Country
Stringent adoption process
To learn more about domestic adoption requirements in your state, go here. You can further research adoption laws by state by clicking here. For specific requirements on adoption in another country, visit this page. Through your research, you have certainly found that the adoption process is complicated, with laws that vary by state and type of adoption. Understanding the requirements of an adoption will help when it comes time to officially start the adoption process.
Why Do People Adopt?
Adoptive parents come from many different backgrounds and have varied reasons for adoption. Some common reasons to choose adoption include:
• The adoptive couple has struggled with infertility and cannot safely carry a child on their own to term
• The adoptive parent is single and is ready to start a family
• The adoptive parents are a same-sex couple who want to raise a child together
The Benefits of Adopting a Child
While many adoptive parents choose adoption as a practical means to start their family, the effects of adoption are often more profound and rewarding than they ever could have imagined. Adoption benefits families in countless ways:
• Adoption gives hopeful parents the opportunity to raise a child they wouldn’t have otherwise
• For couples struggling with infertility, adoption is a guaranteed way to add a child to their family, without the emotional and financial risk involved in IVF treatments
• Adoption allows couples and single adults to share their life with a child and enjoy the unique experience of parenthood
• Adoption builds rewarding, meaningful relationships between adoptive families and birth parents\
• Adoption provides loving, stable homes to children who need them
While there are many reasons to consider adoption, it is not for everyone. Every family should consider the pros and cons of adoption, as well as their own readiness to raise an adopted child, before beginning the process.
Are You Ready for Adoption?
There are many advantages of adoption, but adding to your family is a big decision. If you are considering adoption, you want to make sure that it is a good fit for your family before beginning the process. This may lead you to ask, Should I adopt a child? Is adoption right for me?
Here are five questions to ask yourself as you consider whether you are ready to begin the adoption process:
• Do I meet the legal requirements to adopt in Utah? Any adult may be eligible to adopt in Utah. However, you will need to complete a thorough home study process before you will be approved to adopt a child.
• Can I afford adoption? Adoption can be a significant financial investment, with the average domestic adoption costing around $35,000. You should research your adoption financing options and create a realistic adoption budget to ensure you are financially prepared for the process. There is a federal adoption tax credit to help with expenses and some employers offer financial assistance.
• Am I emotionally ready to adopt? You and your partner must both be fully emotionally invested in the adoption process and be prepared for all of its emotional highs and lows. If you have struggled with infertility, this means you need to give yourself time to grieve and let go of your dream of having a baby biologically before beginning the process.
• Am I ready to be a parent? It is easy to get so caught up in the adoption process that you lose sight of the big picture: parenthood. Adoption is a lifelong process, and you have to be certain that you are ready not only to adopt, but also to raise a child.
• Why adopt a child? Some of the most important factors to consider before beginning the adoption process are your own reasons to adopt a child. Why is adopting a child a good idea for your family?
1. Public or Private Agency?
Public child welfare agencies are government entities that provide a safety net for families. Each county and jurisdiction has its own department of social services responsible for caring for children and youth in foster care and those unable to be reunited with their first families are often available for adoption. Many state, county and city public child welfare offices recognize that LGBTQ applicants are excellent prospects to parent youth in their care. The disadvantages of public agencies are the bureaucracies involved and the lengthy period it can take to complete the process. The advantages are the very low (or no) cost to adopt and the occasional, short-term financial stipends to help you support your new child.
Private agencies are licensed and regulated by the state they reside in and are often non-profits. Many LGBTQ adults choose to adopt through private adoption agencies, especially those agencies with demonstrated sensitivity to LGBTQ applicants. While these adoptions can be costly, applicants are often treated very well and can exercise some control over the type of infant or youth they adopt.
2. What child is right for me/us?
Think carefully about the type of child you feel most able to parent. Please remember that adopting a child is primarily for the child’s benefit, not yours. If she has physical, emotional, or mental challenges, will she eventually thrive with you as her parent? If he has a high need for attention, are you prepared to let him have the spotlight? Would you consider adopting a child who comes with a sister or brother? Are you adamant that you must adopt a girl, not a boy or vice versa? Are you prepared to parent a straight teenager? Or are you pretty open to the kinds of children needing a safe, loving and permanent home? The more flexible you are, the greater the chances of success for both you and your child!
3. Do you have the necessary investments child-rearing requires?
These investments are far more than buying clothes, giving a weekly allowance, or saving for college, although those are important. Can you provide unconditional love to a child? Are you willing to get interested in activities for which your child shows aptitude? Can you be your child’s educational advocate with the school system? Can you lovingly establish, and enforce, reasonable limits? Are you ready to be completely out to your child? If you are partnered, will both of you share these commitments to your new child? If you answered yes to these, you are probably ready to make the necessary investments in the child.
4. Do you have the patience to wait for your child to show you love?
Some children, especially those older than age 5 or so, have a hard time bonding with, and trusting new adults. Are you ready for your new older child to have a very healthy dose of skepticism about you and your commitment to them? Are you prepared to wait for them to return your love?
5. Do you have the social and community resources around you that will help you and them along the way?
Will your friends and family embrace the new family unit? Does your community (i.e., LGBTQ resources, spiritual center, schools) offer events and groups that could be valuable to you and your child? Is there an active LGBTQ parent support group in the area?
6. Are you patient enough to successfully complete pre- and post-adoption placement counseling?
All agencies, public and private, will require you to complete some counseling before and after you adopt. Do you welcome that support or do you view it as intrusive and unwelcome?
7. Are you ready to be 100% honest and transparent with the agency worker?
The worker will evaluate you, your home, financial records, employers, family, medical and psychiatric history, criminal background and so forth to see if you are likely to become a good parent. It’s important to understand that the agency worker is not looking for perfect parents. She or he is looking for your honesty and a reasonably good match with a child in need of a loving home.
8. Have you had a major life event in the past 12 months?
For instance, have you separated from or lost a partner, moved across the country, experienced the death of someone close, lost your job, married your new love, suffered a significant illness or accepted major new job duties? If so please let your significant life events settle in for a while, then re-evaluate whether or not you still want to adopt. Avoid adopting as a remedy for or as an add-on to another major life event. The adoption process is a major life event in its own right. It is unwise to couple it with another life event.
Free Initial Consultation with Lawyer
It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Recent Posts
What Is The Difference Between Fault And No Fault Divorce?
What Is The Process For Obtaining Child Support?
Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Attorneys
Ascent Law St. George Utah Office
Ascent Law Ogden Utah Office
