How to Adopt
Once you have decided that you want to adopt a child, figuring out how to begin an adoption can be quite challenging. One of the first steps is to do decide which type of adoption is right for you. Prospective parents may choose to work with an adoption agency or proceed with an “independent” adoption without agency involvement. Also, birth parents and adoptive parents must decide how much contact they want with one another. Additionally, prospective parents must follow state regulations mandating the “home study” process, court approval, and other steps along the way. This sub-section includes articles and resources to help you get started and successfully complete the adoption process.
- The Adoption Home Study Process
In-depth explanation of the home study process, which includes interviews and home visits, and is a requirement for prospective parents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Locating a Child Available for Adoption: Top 10 Ways
Top 10 ways to locate a child who is available for adoption, including the posting of classified advertisements, finding a surrogate mother, becoming a foster parent, and using an agency.
- Questions to Ask Child's Caseworker
Important questions to ask a potential adoptive child's case worker before committing to an adoption, such as what kind of behavior you can expect from the child.
- Costs of Adopting: Fact Sheet for Families
Overview and estimates of the various costs associated with the adoption process, such as home study expenses, legal fees, domestic infant adoption costs, and agency fees.
- Adoption Assistance for Special Needs Children
Explanation of federal and/or state adoption assistance programs for children with special needs, such as physical or mental disabilities, a history of abuse, or prenatal exposure to drugs.
- Adoption Court Procedures FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions with regard to the adoption court process, such as the need for court intervention, the need for an attorney, and legal requirements for international adoption.
- Adoption Agency Checklist
- Adoption Assistance
- Adoption Checklist
- Adoption Consent FAQ
- Adoption Court FAQs
- Adoption Tax Credit
- Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number
- Biological Parents' Consent to Adoption FAQ
- Consent to Adoption: Introduction
- Costs of Adopting: Fact Sheet for Families
- Home Study for Adoption FAQ
- Locating a Child Available for Adoption: Top 10 Ways
- Obstacles to the Adoption Process
- Obtaining Background Information on Your Prospective Adoptive Child
- Questionnaire: Am I Eligible To Adopt A Child?
- Questions For Birth Parents: Adoption Plans
- Questions to Ask Child's Caseworker
- The Adoption Home Study Process
- Where Are Adoption Cases Heard?