Adoption is a process by which prospective parents may take on the guardianship of a child who is not born to them. If you’re considering adopting a child for the first time, the process can be confusing. The following break down can help you to understand the elements involved in adoption.
Adoption Agencies
Adoption agencies are organizations that facilitate adoptions. They require a license, and may be domestic (located in the United States) or international (located in another country). Some agencies are public, meaning they are run by the government or a charitable organization. Going through a public agency used to be the most common route, but today that has changed. Most people adopt through private agencies.
Individual Adoptions
Individual adoptions are arranged without a third-party body or organization. This may require the assistance of lawyers or adoption facilitators as required by individual state laws.
How Long Does the Adoption Process Take?
Adoption can be a lengthy process. Domestic adoptions take at least a year from the time the home assessment is completed, but often they take longer—between two and five years. It’s very difficult to estimate how long an adoption will take, because in many cases it’s up to the birth parents to select the family. Adopting a child with special needs may take less time.
International adoptions take at least a year as well. The process is not quite as variable, though you may have to wait months for arrangements to be made even once the child is selected.
How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Child?
In general, the cost of adopting a child ranges widely, from nothing at all to $30,000. The cost depends largely on where you adopt the child from. Here’s a breakdown:
- Public adoption agencies, which are run by charitable or government organizations, include children adopted from the foster care system. The cost ranges from zero to approximately $2,500.
- With a private organization, the cost may range from $4,000 to $30,000.
- Independent adoptions can range in price from $8,000 to $30,000.
- Adopting a child internationally, whether through an independent arrangement or a private organization, can range in price from $7,000 to upwards of $25,000.
Can Single People Adopt?
In the last two decades, single-parent adoptions have steadily increased. The desire to raise children is not necessarily exclusive to couples or married people. In addition, these days, people are more accepting of diverse families.
In spite of this, traditional views of parenting still point to the need for a mother and a father as role models for children’s development and growth. Prospective adoptive agencies and parents place an emphasis on a single person’s support system. Would-be single parents must also demonstrate that they’ve thought through the implications of their choice to be a single parent.
How To Get Started
If you want to find out more about adoption, start by researching the various agencies and adoptive services available to you. Agencies can offer you substantially more information regarding the cost and requirements.