Who can adopt?

If you’re wondering if you fit the picture of an adoptive parent, ask yourself the following Yes or No questions (this is not a multiple choice test):

Are you married or single?
Are you childless, or already parenting kids?
Are you not disabled, or do you have a disability that does not limit your ability to care for a child thoughout childhood?
Have you been or not been divorced?
Do you own your home or rent?
Are you basically a good person, but with normal human faults?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these, you may fit just fine.

Parents considering placing a child for adoption will have their own views of what would be desirable qualities and suitable situations when they are considering placement. Since it would be impossible to deduce just what those views would be, as potential birth parents are as different in perspective as any group of individuals, the best advice is to be yourself and allow the true you to shine through. Although you might think you’re not looking all that good on paper and want to snazz up the old image, take a nip here and a tuck there, understand that your “wrinkles” may be just what a parent is looking for.

While you’re wondering if others will find you fit to adopt, it’s important to ask yourself about your limitations. Do you have financial, age, health, or relationship concerns? Do you recognize any limits you would not like to exceed? Are there potential situations that would stretch your comfort zone beyond the boundaries?

! Nothing and no one can guarantee that your child will not develop a condition that stretches your comfort zone.

Although you can and should demand information about the physical health of the expectant mother and a medical history from both parents, babies do not come with warranties.

Understanding that adoption does not assure a ‘perfect’ child is one of the first steps in preparing yourself for the process.

The details

Here’s a wrap of things that will be taken into consideration for adoptions. (For a more detailed look, check out the “Qualification Requirements” page at Adoption.com.)

Any summation of requirements and qualifications in the adoption world has to start with a declaration: No one has a ‘right’ to adopt. Although everyone has a right to WANT to adopt, to desire to become a parent through adoption, and to attempt to adopt, there is nothing in the whole wide world that will guarantee that it will, can, or should happen.

Now, with that out of the way …

It almost goes without saying (but it won’t) that State, federal and local laws on adoption and procedures will be in place and must be followed. If you’re adopting across state lines, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children will dictate how this is done. The legal and procedural requirements are imposed by the laws of the state and county where the adoption will actually take place, which is generally the county and state where the adoptive parents reside.

Married / Single

It may be easier for married couples to adopt than for singles. Not a hard and fast rule, but most parents considering placing a child have the two-parent household in mind. In fact, this may be a very big factor in their decision not to parent themselves.

You may be required to be married for more than three years before beginning your process, and both partners must be committed to idea of adopting. Previous marriages are not usually a problem.

Some agencies do choose to impose restrictions, asking that potential adoptive parents be married a certain length of time (usually 3 years), or of a certain age (25 to 40 is common), or require that there are no other children in the home.

Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton