Introduction:
Adoption is a beautiful thing to do when building your family, allowing children that may be in need of more love to find happiness and stability. It must be noted there is a lengthy legal process in the USA which may vary from state to state. Creating awareness on how adoption works helps families through each step with the right direction. This article will offer a comprehensive guide to the adoption process, from American acknowledging that you are looking forward to adopting till the formal ending of your adoption.
Types of adoption
In the United States, there are different types of adoption that require specific legal formalities:
- Domestic Infant Adoption : Includes adoptions of newborn babies and infants in the USA. Typically, this process includes going through an adoption agency system that will pair potential parents with a birth mother who has decided to put their baby up for adoption.
- Promote care adoption: When a family adopts a child or unrelated newborn from the state’s custody.The adopted child is the one looking for permanent home.
- Wrong International Adoption: It is the adoption in which a child from another country can be adopted. As an international adoption requires following the laws of different countries and more paperwork this takes a lengthier process that can only be done through state licensed resources/programs in your region.
- Stepparent Adoption: When a stepparent adopts the child of his or her spouse. It may be a simpler type of adoption process because the child is already living with the family.
- Related (Family) Adoption: This occurs when a family member such as an uncle, aunt or grandparent adopts the child. In such examples, the adoption may be fast tracked if both biological parents are willing to surrender their rights.
Legal requirements for adoption in USA
1-Age
In some states adoptive parents must be of 18 years of age. The adoption is not meant for the minors (the one who is below 18 years) while in other states the age is more than 18 years for adoption.
2-Background check
Background checks include fingerprinting and to check the state’s record for the criminal activity if any.
3-Home safety
It includes studying the safety of a child by observing the mental states of the adoptive parents and their approach towards parenting.
4- Home study
It includes the study of the home environment whether it is healthy and a happy home where a child is going to live in future.It also includes to consider the family dynamics , their ethics and norms for living the life.
5- Financial stability
It is not necessary to be wealthy to adopt the child, the financial stability is sufficient to be the adoptive parents. It is necessary to ensure to fulfill all the needs of a child.
6-Medical fitness
Many states and courts want to ensure that the adoptive parents go through the medical examination so that it will be confirmed that they may raise the child in future.
Steps in the adoption process
There are certain steps to consider in order to go through a smooth adoption process.These are as follows,
1-Deciding to adopt
Adoption is a lifelong process so it is important for the said parents to be ready mentally to adopt a child. An adoptive child brings many responsibilities in the life of adoptive parents.Understanding the nature of the child may help adoptive parents to create a healthy and immediate bond with the child. For better understanding they may consult the birth parents of a child
2- Choosing adoption type
After deciding to be an adoptive parent it is necessary to choose the adoption type. The adoption lawyer may help the adoptive parents in choosing the best type as per their needs and requirements as well as the state they are living in.Speaking with adoption professionals will make the legal process more smooth and easy to opt for adoptive parents.
3-Complete home study
Home study is an important part to do before starting the adoption process.It is done by the social worker with the help of an adoption professional . It majorly includes the study of home environment, existing family members bonding with each other, their background and readiness to adopt.It is done through interview , home visits and reviewing financial stability.
Home study is done for two purpose
- 3a- Their home is a safe place for a child to live
- 3b- They are ready to adopt a healthy living environment.
4- Working with adoption agency/ lawyer
The type of adoption decides working with the agency or adoption lawyer. Agency helps adoption parents and a child to go through legal process , arrange their initial meetings while the legal process is ongoing in the court where as the adoption lawyers are involved in private cases
- 4a-Agency support: Agency helps adoption parents to meet with the birthparents and complete the legal process
- 4b- Legal support: An adoption lawyer is often needed to guide about complex legal matters. An adoptive lawyer is required in case of stepparents or relative adoption.
5- Matching with child
Matching with a child is usually done in two types.if the adoption is through agency it is required to go through the profile of a child , in this case birth parents choose the adoptive parents for a child. Agency role is important in an international adoption of a child where child does not belong to the same region or state
6- Legal steps to finalize the adoption
Adoption process usually varies from state and adoption type.However certain things are necessary to consider.
- 6a-Consult the birth parents: The birth parents of a child are consulted first of all that either they are giving their parental rights in case of child adoption. The statement of parental rights transfer is given in front of the judge,that they are doing it voluntarily and they are well aware of it.
- 6b-Court verdict/decision: The case of child adoption requires a proper court hearing. Thejudge in that hearing reviews all the facts and figures, analyzes the case thoroughly by referring to all the documents presented in front of him. The judge also sees all the background involved in the adoption case. The judge, after getting satisfied, approves the case and issues a legal degree. After issuance of degree the adoption case was considered legal and lawful.
- 6c-Amending birth certificate: Once a degree of adoption was issued by the court,the next step is the amendment of the birth certificate of a child. The names of parents who adopted the child were recorded in the birth certificate, so that they can own all the legal rights of the child.
Post adoption requirements
After the adoption the post adoption follow up was also carried out in some states to ensure that the child is settling down in a new house and has no issues. This follow up is most common in international adoption cases. Social workers perform this task of post adoption followup.
The adoption parents often make agreements with the birth parents in which they have some sort of communication in between them. Communication can be done through exchange of letters and in some cases the frequent visits are also planned between both the families.
Conclusion
In the USA, the child adoption process is properly managed and documented. The adoption process involves many steps starting from willingness of birth parents to adoption degree issuance and then the post adoption follow up. The adoption process can be a lengthy process but the law of the USA ensures a safe and loving home for the adopted child.
The adoption process can be better managed by consulting the legal agencies associated with adoption cases. The legal agencies help the families to pursue their case smoothly and conclude it in a timely manner. The families can grow positively by the adoption of the children and make the life full of joy ,happiness and hope.