I'm thinking about adopting, what are some of the things needed to be able to adopt?

Heather R

Here are some sites with adoption requirements:

http://www.adoption.org/adopt/adoption-requirements.php

http://www.adoptionservices.org/adoption/adoption_requirements.htm

http://www.awaa.org/programs/agencyrequirements.aspx

Good luck honey, I hope you give a baby the home it needs and deserves! Its a long hard process but its worth it!

Jennifer D

PLEASE do not listen to anyone who says adoption costs a fortune. It doesn't have to! If you adopt from foster care (infants through 17 year olds can be adopted from foster care), it is very inexpensive, and can even be free.
When I adopted by daughter, she was legally free for adoption (no fighting in court), I received a monthly stipend from the state, the state refunded all my court and legal fees (only about $1500 to begin with), and to this day, I get a check from the state to offset the cost of daycare. It's not a lot, but I put it into a savings account for my daughter. ALSO, she gets Medicaid coverage (even though I have great health insurance), AND her college education is paid for!
If you adopt a "special needs" or "hard to place" child, you can get all these benefits - "hard to place" is defined as Caucasian children over the age of 6, or minority children over the age of 2. "Special Needs" can mean asthma, minor developmental delays, and other issues who might encounter with a birth child. Look into it - even if you adopt an infant from foster care, it is very inexpensive - when I adopted my son, legal fees were $1800, and my employer refunded it all as part of an Adoption Assistance Program.
Each state's requirements are different, but most require you to be at least 23 years old, have a stable job and home (can be rented), no criminal record, and that you pass the home study.

Patricia C

I adopted 4 special needs children through Human Services.
They were all with me as foster children and all 4, ironically, became available for adoption at once. 2 were siblings, the other 2 weren't. It didn't cost me anything except the cost of having their birth certificates changed. Life hasn't always been easy, but I would do it all again (maybe with a few changes). Good Luck with whatever you decide.

PLEASURE pUPPY

No matter how loving you are...money talks. It is going to cost a pretty penny, but what you should start to do if you haven't already done it is, you should put money in the bank because they would need financial statements of income for like 5 months or something. They also check if you have money saved, if you have anything that could sustain a child. It is almost like buying a house, they look at everything. They even check if you have a criminal record, or have been institutionalized, etc. Again, they check EVERYTHING, so if you have skeletons in the closet I would suggest you figure out how your going to defend yourself when those things come out. Good Luck.....

Wundt

Adoption does not have to cost you anything.

If you privately adopt, either directly through a woman looking to give up her unborn child or from another country, then it can be expensive. My sister spent $10,000 15 years ago for her private adoption.

However, we have adopted two little boys through the state Child Protective Services office (the Foster Care system) and it is costing us next to nothing. In fact, we receive benefits from the state to off-set the costs. These are kids who were removed from their birth parents by the state for neglect or abuse reasons. There are thousands of such children in every state in need of good homes. Many adoptive parents are put off by stories that these kids are 'damaged', but that is a gross misrepresentation. Yes, there are many children with serious problems, but most are normal kids who just need a stable home and family to shine. (One of our adoptive sons was almost a year behind developmentally when we got him, he is now caught up after just 6 months with us).

Look into the state option. Contact your local and state agencies to find out what you need to do. You will likely need to jump through some hoops, such as get certified as a Foster home and take parenting and/or first aid classes.

mistysea

Unless you tell at what country you reside it is very hard to give you factual answers/ideas/suggestions as every country has its own rules and regulations concerning adoptions.

Xiomy

I believe the requirements include a stable home (emotionally, financially). I believe the cost depends on the agency and the country the child is adopted from.

mariz

Definitely cost a lot of fortune! just contact an agency that will help u process all th papers that u will need and they will support u all the way thru the adoption process..there are maybe exhaustions in the process sometimes worried and all the feelings u will encounter but it is worth to fight and it is sometimes worth than anything else u can imagine. Goodluck to u.

not2posh

I don't know exactly the criteria needed but I do know that you are not allowed any form of criminal record.
GOOD LUCK! I'm sure it will be very rewarding for you to adopt.

thefoxxww2

Interesting - I just spoke with an adoption attorney who quoted me a rate of between $5,000-$7,000 to do a private adoption. I don't think it has to be cost prohibitive. If you foster/adopt, it's free.

First you have to decide what type of adoption you want to do - domestic or International.

If you decide domestic, you will have to decide if you want a private adoption and, if so, if you want to adopt through an Agency or an adoption attorney.

If you want to do a foster/adopt - you will have to apply to your state.

If you want international, you will have to figure out which country and then find an agency working with that company.

Val C

It does cost a lot of money, the adoption agencies scrutinize every aspect of your life, financial, work, other family, your home, your neighborhood, your personal life and choices, and age. It is an uphill battle. But if you really want to adopt it is worth the fight.

evol

check lots of websites about it. Do you have any friends who have adopted?? you can ask them too.. I know you need a good income, and a safe place/home for them && be able to up-keep an income when you adopt them.

dobbieray

You will need

a significant income plus large amount of money for legal costs etc
Be within a certain age range (not sure what it is in your country)
Have stable work history
Have a stable home environment
Also be of very good health and within a certain weight range (may not apply in your country)
Police and criminal record check - state, country and international
Clean civil and criminal record (depending upon your country)
Patience as adoption can take a real long time

This is not a 'set in stone' list but it is a good start.

Good luck I hope you find a child to call your own and that you will be able to love and raise. Bless you

PS I am an adopted child and so glad to my parents who raised me and also to my biological mum who had to give me up at birth

twinsmama06

The cost is not a fortune considering what you are doing. It can be as little as $15 and up to 60k. the norm being around $25k. If you decide on an older child you will most likely be able to adopt for free through the state and your child will have health insurance and college paid for (depending on your state). Your first step is to pick an agency and get a home study. Good luck.

Rainia W

It depends on what kind of adoption you plan on pursuing. For example, international adoption or private infant adoption can be extremely expensive. Adoption through state social services is usually free or close to it, but chances of adopting an infant (child under 2) is slim to none.

- Stable income
- Stable relationship if you are in a relationship
- No tragedies within the last year (close family member dying/divorce/etc)

Things such as the above are usually normal requirements.

wolf

It costs a lot of money. You need a stable home environment, room for the child or children you want to adopt, money to pay the agency fees, have the time to go through a background check, home study and training.

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