Adoption
Adoption is where a child legally becomes a member of a new family and brought up in a new family, who take on all the legal rights and responsibilities for a child. There are thousands of children around the country and around the world who do not have parents. Some are in foster care, a temporary home setting. Other children live in orphanages or with birth relatives until they can be adopted. If you are unable to have children, adoption is a great option for you and for your family. There are three ways to adopt a child. The main thing is that you find an individual or agency that is trustworthy. Following are ways for adoption:
- Private adoption – You may consider adopting a child through your own connections of family and friends.
- Domestic adoption – you may adopt a child through the local Department of Child Services in your area.
- International Adoption – you may adopt a child located in a foreign country. You will be required to travel to the country to meet and adopt your child.
An important part of an adoption is having a lawyer. You will want to make sure to hire one that handles adoptions often and know exactly what you need to do through the whole process.
Child’s eligibility for adoption
Before the court can make an adoption order, the court has to be satisfied of all of the following:
- The child was under the age of 18 when the adoption application was made
- The child is not or has never been married or in a civil partnership
- Both birth parents have given their consent to the adoption
In some cases, it is not necessary to get consent from the birth parent or guardian. This happens when the birth parent or guardian cannot be found or the child’s welfare would be at risk if the adoption order was delayed
Adoption is an option that is increasingly being considered by many couples in the world today. It is a wonderful way to build or grow a family. But you need to make sure you are prepared and your whole family should also be prepared for adopting a child.
