Can you adopt an older child?

Jennifer

Not sure what the age requirements are in the US for foster care adoption, internationally you must be 16 years older than the child you are adopting, and most countries require you to be a certain age. Some countries it's only 25, but alot of them require you to be 30 or older. But that's not far away. We adopted a 10 year old last summer from the Philippines, and I can tell you from my own experience and many others I know who have done this, you are going into it with the wrong motive if you think you can mold them at that age. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it can't be done. But it is very, very difficult. By the time they are 12 they have already decided who they are and really don't want to change. They've had to use some pretty strong survival skills to get by on their own for so long, that's it really hard to break through all that. I commend you for wanting to help these kids. So few people are willing to open their homes to anything other than a healthy infant. But you need to understand that it is going to be so much harder. The other child we adopted was 5, and he is a thousand times easier to parent because of his age. He so desperately wants a mom and dad, where as our 10 year old is feeling that he's gotten by just fine without parents all this time, he doesn't need someone telling him what to do. We are doing therapy and we've made some major progress on our own too. But it's going to be a long road.
But if you want to go through the state, it's free, which is a huge bonus. I would contact your state's social service department and they can tell you what you want to know.

Mom to Foster Children

Yes, there are thousands of children in Foster Care who are older and that NEED homes!

MARY

I don't see why not. Talk to your local social services agency and find out. There are tons of kids needing permanent homes.
www.adopt.org
www.adoptablekids.org

â™¥â™¥Mum To Superkids is engagedâ™¥â™¥

It all depends on your local area's specifications as to the age difference between parent and child. However, children over 5 or 6 (in general) are often harder to place, so you absolutely can adopt a child who isn't a baby or toddler. In fact, older children are often the ones most in need of a family.

Give your local child protection department a call and ask them your questions. They will be happy to answer them and send you on information sessions, etc. Good luck.

kidmindi

YES! Foster care is full of older kids needing to be adopted. Call your local social services office to learn all the details. Also check out this link http://www.adoptuskids.org/

C J

Most certainly. In fact, you can even adopt step children that are over 21!

Most states have a general rule that you must be 15 years older than the child to adopt it. This also includes step parent adoption of an adult.

At 29 there is no reason in any state that you can not adopt a child of 12 or so. However, all the other red tape still applies.

There are lots of older children available for adoption and lots of older sibling groups. You can search children waiting for adoption and see the children and sibling groups or contact foster care

Rosie

Yes. 29 minus 12 is 17, that's pretty close to the minimum age spread. so yeah. you can.

Payten

A older child as in....10+?

You can adopt anyone legally free for adoption granted you are at least 10 years older than the adoptee.

Raven

You should be able to yes... you may just make it in the age limit. Good luck

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