Adopting a child is a great milestone for your family; adoption can help meet a need for fertility and if you have a passion for meeting the needs of orphans and children under foster care. (This California education lawyer is good, check them out).
If you are considering adoption, aside from seeking the cost, the duration of the process is one thing that will cross your mind.
This article answers your question, so let’s get to it.
WHAT IS THE ADOPTION PROCESS?
Adoption hinges on two factors, it’s either a domestic infant adoption or a foster care adoption.
DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION
Most adoptions follow the same procedure, but similar factors affect the actualization.
Here are some factors that affect the adoption process.
- Home Assessment. The period where the service of a social worker is needed to access the new home is also called a Home Study. This action usually takes 2 to 3 months. The time can be lesser if all documents are ready.
- Finding A Match. The adoptive parent has to wait to be selected by a birth mother. The waiting period here varies, some couples may have to wait for a long time, while others get their request early enough.
- Placement. After finding a match, the waiting period depends on how long the pregnancy has lasted. If the birth mother is just a month pregnant, you have 8 months to wait.
- Finalization. The final process takes a minimum of six months, the social worker gives the final report and recommendation to the court after six months of observation.
FOSTER CARE ADOPTION PROCESS
The two methods of foster care adoption; adopting a foster child and fostering to adopt, all require the same process.
The following factors affect the adoption process.
- Training. Agencies in charge of foster care adoption enroll adoptive parents for training which can run for a stipulated time at their discretion. Being diligent while at the training can help collapse the time stipulated.
- Home Study. Adoptive parents are expected to make their homes convenient for a new arrival, to this, a social worker goes to inspect their house. The absence of necessary equipment at home may delay the process of adoption.
- Placement. After the assessment is completed, then the foster child is allowed to live with the adoptive parent for two days. This is to get acquainted with a new home.
- Finalization. Adoption can be finalized if the foster child wishes to stay with the adoptive parents. This doesn’t take much time.
In general, what prolongs the adoption process may be centered around the home study, finalization process, and also the cost of adoption.
These factors have a great impact on the duration of getting an adoption. One thing to note is that every family has a different experience of adoption, one’s experience may depend on state laws, finance, the attorney, and the adoption agency involved.
One way to be ahead of time when going for adoption is by providing necessary documents and information that can hasten the process.
While all these factors can hinder a quick adoption process, having patience and determination will help you through the process.