Requirements to Adopt a Baby
Requirements to adopt a baby vary by state, country and adoption agency. There are many different requirements for prospective adoptive parents. The federal government, as well as each state, country and agency has different requirements based on age, income level, marital status, medical and psychological health, sexual orientation, race and religion.
U.S Requirements to Adopt a Baby
According to Adoption.state.gov, the minimum requirements for a person to be able to adopt a baby from overseas include: U.S. citizenship, being at least 25 years old (if unmarried), and passing a criminal background check as well as a home study. Requirements for domestic adoptions are up to the state and agencies.
State Requirements to Adopt a Baby
AdoptUsKids.org has specific information on adopt in each state. Typical state requirements include completing completing a training program and being licensed. State adoption agencies work with social services and foster children's services, although not all states require prospective adoptive parents to first be foster parents. Additionally, some states do not allow gay people to adopt. Most states require that couples who wish to adopt be married. The courts are often a place where precedents are made in these cases, and are always changing. Check your state for details.
Agency Requirements to Adopt a Baby
Each adoption agency sets its own requirements for the people it will work with to adopt a baby. Agencies are very up-front about their requirements. For example, some agencies will not work with single people over the age of 40. Additionally, in domestic adoptions, people who are putting their babies up for adoption play an important role in choosing the birth parents. According to Adoption.com, biological parents may impose whatever restrictions they want upon adoptive parents, including age, religion and whatever else the biological parent considers important.
International Adoption Requirements
Adoption.State.gov has up-to-date information on all countries where international adoptions take place. Adoptive parents must comply with all federal and state requirements. Additionally, each country imposes its own requirements on adoptive parents. The U.S. currently has agreements with approximately 75 countries under the The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). In order to adopt overseas, prospective parents must first file an application with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The application includes a home study. Search the database at Adoption.State.gov for specific country requirements. Almost all countries require prospective parents to spend some time in the host country. Additionally, countries have their own requirements for the age, race, religion, income and marital status of the prospective parent.
Considerations
Adopting a baby is a long process but thousands of people adopt babies every year, both domestically and abroad. When people have problems with adoption agencies that have strict requirements, they generally find another agency that will work with them. Visit Adopting.org for more information on finding agencies that work with singles, people over 40, gays and lesbians, and more.
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