Through child adoption, a person can assume the parenting of a child or any other person from the legal or biological parents.
In so doing, all rights as well as responsibilities are permanently transferred to the new parent(s).
Some societies have specific laws that govern adoption while others apply a less informal approach in the adoption process.
For the formal means, the initial legal step is usually termination of parental rights of the child’s biological parents and the final process being the finalization of the adoption in court, having effected some adoption laws in the process.
The following is a sample overview for the adoption process in the US.
Learn About The Adoption Process
It’s important to first learn all about adoption from relevant sources such as books, magazines or relevant websites like those for adoptive agencies.
You may also attend adoptive support groups or adoption conferences.
Social networking sites for adoption cases can also be of great help.
Select an Adoption Agency
Contact several licensed adoption agencies in your state to inquire about the children they place, fee structures, their assessments and preparation of families, the process time frame etc.
Refer to other parents for the best agencies available.
Provide Info to Adoption Agency
Having located the preferred child, you may exchange the information with the child’s worker or agency including the child’s profile.
Have A Home Study Done
A social worker for the adoption agency would have a series of meetings with you by sometimes visiting your home to ascertain your readiness for adopting a child as well as advise on the same.
Find A Child to Adopt
Afterwards, you can search for a child either in the agency or by their help through networking with other agencies.
Receive Adoption Approval
If the child’s worker has selected you from others, he would then share more confidential information and the biological parent’s parental rights can now be terminated.
Meet With Child
After this, you can now meet with the child for several times and all paperwork is also completed at this time.
Child is Placed
This is the date when the child can come to live with you.
Your adoption agency will assist you to facilitate this and adoption will be formalized in the closest Family Court.
Congratulations!