An associate of mine finds it very interesting that any couple in this world, no matter how rich or poor, no matter what they do for a living, no matter if they have a criminal record or not, no matter what kind of persons they are, can have as many kids as they like and nobody can say one word about it. But when a middle class, hard working, law abiding couple wants to adopt a child they have to jump through more hoops than a clown at a three ring circus. He wonders why. In this article we'll try to explain some of the problems and red tape associated with a couple trying to adopt a child.

For starters, adoption law varies from state to state. Yes, there are laws, and depending on where you live those laws can be quite different but there are some laws that are pretty common across the board. There is the Consent to Adoption. This consent refers to the agreement by a parent, or a person or agency acting in place of a parent, to relinquish the child for adoption and to release all rights and duties with respect to that child. In other words before you can adopt the child the birth parent or agency in charge, if the birth parents are dead, has to give consent for the adoption to take place.

Then there is the parties to adoption. In order for an adoption to take place, a person available to be adopted must be placed in the home of a person or persons eligible to adopt. All States, the District of Columbia, and the US territories Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands have laws that specify which persons are eligible as adopting parents, and which persons can be adopted. In other words they decide whether or not they think the adoptive parents are fit and this varies from state to state.

So who CAN adopt? Generally speaking anyone over the age of 18 but in some states 21 and still in others the minimum age is 25. Again, this is all state regulated. There are some states that allow minors to adopt under certain circumstances but this is very rare. In some states the adopting parents must be at least 10 years older than the child. So if you want to adopt a 15 year old boy you have to be at least 25 years of age. Then there is the residency question. Most states require that you be living at your current residence for at least 60 days.

So who can BE adopted? Generally, anyone under the age of 18. Of course depending on the state there are some additional requirements. For example, in some states the child has to be living in that state at the time of the adoption. So if you wanted to adopt someone from overseas you wouldn't be able to. In some states this extends further to the child having to be a resident for a certain length of time. Some states do allow the adoption of a person regardless of age but this is very rare. Then there is the question of WHO can place a child for adoption. This is usually the birth parent or parents unless both are dead and then it is the agency to which custody of the child was appointed.

But this gets even more complicated. What if the birth mother and father are not married and the mother wants to put the child up for adoption but the father does not? This becomes an extremely messy situation. First there is the court battle between the mother and father to determine who gets the say in the matter. In most cases unless the mother is proven unfit the right to place the child up for adoption is granted. If not, however, then a determination has to be made as to whether or not the father is given custody of the child. We are assuming at this point that since he was against the adoption that he will want to keep the child, but he is in no way legally obligated to do this and can put the child up for adoption at a later date.

Then there are the adoption fees. In most states the adoptive parents have to pay these fees and they can be enormous, going into the tens of thousands of dollars. My associate thinks this is absurd. The parents don't want the child but it's the adoptive parents who have to pay to get the child even though the child isn't wanted. Some would say that is hard logic to argue with. As you can see, adoption is not simple. Add to all the above that the adoption process can be a very lengthy one, sometimes taking years, it makes you wonder why anyone would go through the trouble. For that matter why would someone have to when there are so many unwanted children in the world? It gives you something to think about.

About the Author

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to http://african-safari.guide-to.info

Tags: adoption agency, adoption costs, Adoption General Information

A mummy! A daddy! The belief that all children are entitled to a family! The belief that all who want to be parents will excel at the life-long process involved! These beliefs, cherished by all cultures, are the foundation for adoption. Yet, in reality, society doesn?t always wholeheartedly support an adopted child or those who create a home for it.

Adoption occurs when biological parents, who are usually also the legal parents, transfer over complete and permanent rights and obligations to raising a child. These legal parents usually freely choose adoption and willingly sign the necessary consent forms.

However, when a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or even abandoned, the courts may order that the child be ?put out for adoption.?In the court-ordered cases, the child usually remains in a foster home until he is about six or seven years old before being placed for adoption.

The differences between adoption and foster homes are reflected in the permanence of adoption. Foster homes are always considered temporary, and foster parents have no legal rights as to the long-term care of the child, even if the courts order the child returned to an abusive environment.

A child may have many sets of foster parents over the years; adoptive parents are technically there for the lifetime of the child.

Many myths abound about the mental, emotional and physical well-being of an adopted child, and that?s exactly what 99% are: only myths. The ?poor little adopted child? in reality is usually a well-fed, loved, delightful child who has been given opportunities that exceed what many ?non-adopted? children receive. The adopted child has been spared from living under circumstances where he is not wanted, or where, although wanted, the parents couldn?t take care of him.

The challenges come more from the reactions of society than from the home circumstances. In our society today outsiders still sometimes rudely ask a child born in a different country,?What are you?? (referring to their race). When a white-skinned person adopts an African American child many in society still look on with a frown at the grocery store.

Another myth is that the adopted child will always feel ?rejected,? yet that word ?always? should be watched. Most psychologists and social workers have come to understand that a person raised in its biological home is just as apt to feel rejected as an adopted child. It all depends on the circumstances and how much bonding and love and attention is experienced.

Growing up to be a responsible adult is a challenge for people raised under any circumstances. Sometimes people choose not to be responsible and make excuses about how they were raised. For those people, if they were adopted, that is a convenient excuse, although usually it is not an accurate representation.

Curiosity is part of human nature. For those who are adopted, it is natural to wonder who their biological parents were and what became of them. The love they feel for those who have raised them does not diminish by this curiosity. And, it is natural for the biological parents to wonder what became of their baby or child.

Yet, for all concerned, the past is like a cancelled check you can?t keep spending it. Whether adopted or not, here and now is where we are living! How fortunate we are that adoption exists so dreams of being part of a family can be a delightful reality for all.

About the Author:

Adoz Lizzat is the webmaster of Peak Adopts which tackles all adoption issues.For more information, go to: http://www.adoptionr.com

Tags: adoption agency, Adoption General Information, Orphans and Orphanages, special needs adoption

Years ago, children who were adopted had a lot of issues, most of them related to wanting to know their real parents. They grew up and had always this in their mind, to know the real parents. They checked the adoption register in their home town and could not find anything. The problem here was that the adoption records were not correct.

You are probably also aware of just how difficult it can be to gain access to them. There are numerous reasons why an adoptee would want to take a look at the legal documents surrounding their adoption. Sometimes it is just pure curiosity, but other times, adoption records may hold the answer with regards to a grave illness or disease.

In most states, these legal records do not fall under the Freedom of Information Act, and therefore are not accessible by the general public, and also includes those individuals who have been adopted, or are an adoptive parent. Luckily, the Internet has made it possible to bring an adoptee together with their biological families, if both sides are willing. This makes gaining access to adoption records unnecessary; since the adopted individual will be able to learn everything they want to know first hand.

Some individuals who were adopted as babies are unaware of their true place and time of birth, have no idea who their biological parents were, and might be unaware of important medical situations that were present at birth. Adoption records can provide names of people and places that may be of importance, as well as a wealth of additional information.

For those who are seeking detailed information concerning their birth, there are many avenues that can be taken. For example, The National Center for Adoption Law and Policy will be able to provide information regarding laws that govern the unsealing of adoption records. In addition to this resource, The National Adoption Clearinghouse offers information on such topics as access to adoption records, confidential intermediaries, reunion registries, adoption laws and information pertaining to the release of birth records.

Conducting a search on the World Wide Web using any of the major search engines, and typing in the term ?adoption records? will yield about 330,000 results. Many of these results will link to organizations, agencies and the like who provide resources that will help you find the information you are seeking.

Another tool that is helpful when searching for information is pre-adoption records. While these records are not open to the general public, they are normally accessible by the adoptee, since it is this person?s information that the records hold. Pre-adoption records refer to records that were kept on an individual before a legal adoption took place. These records can include, but are not limited to, hospital records, court records, children?s service agency records and immunization records. Some of these records may hold the key to finding the actual adoption records.

About the Author:

You will find more from this author at: family-mag.com

Tags: adoption agency, Adoption Announcement, adoption records

* Who is eligible to adopt?

If you are fully committed to the decision to adopt, then you already have the most essential factor to gaining custody of a child. Moreover, if you can provide for the basic needs of a child as well as give him a nurturing environment then you may adopt. Here are some factors that will help you know who is qualified to adopt:

- Single individuals who are 21 years old and above
- Married couples who are childless or who have other children
- The emotional and physical well-being of potential adoptive parents is also taken into consideration

* I am single, can I adopt?

Yes. Even though you are single you have the option to adopt if you wish, given that you are 21 years old and above.

Commitment is the essential factor that most agencies are looking for in adoptive parents. A caring environment is necessary to ensure that the adopted child will grow into a productive adult.

* Is a special needs adoption the right choice for me?

If you are the type of person who is patient, has ample time to give the needs of a special child as well as shower him with the love he needs, then adopting a child with special needs may be for you. Emotional stability is needed to hurdle the many trials you will face with the decision to adopt a child with special needs.

Additionally, being financially and physically strong can be helpful in overcoming the challenge of being an adoptive parent to a child with special needs.

* Should I do international or domestic adoption?

There are numerous factors for you to consider before jumping into the decision to choose either international or domestic adoption. Such factors are:

- Travel. Once you decide to adopt internationally, you are required to personally pick up the child from his or her country. Normally you are required to stay for a week. There are times that the length of stay for adoptive parents can be up to three weeks.

On the other hand, adopting a child within your state will not require you extensive and intercontinental travels.

- Expenses. Surveys show that international adoption is the most expensive type of adoption since there are many documents to prepare as well as fees to pay. On the other hand, opting for a domestic adoption is not as costly as international adoption. There are times when domestic adoption can be free of charge. Each case is individual.

- Adoption Training. It is recommended for domestic adoption to attend trainings and seminars before gaining custody of a child. While international adoptions do not normally have required training.

* What are some legal issues in adoption?

Legal issues in adoption differ from one state to another or from one country to another. It also depends on the type of adoption from which you will be choosing. Hence, if you plan to adopt, it is recommended that you research and be familiar with the existing laws and regulations on adoption in your area.

* How can the Internet help me in adopting a child?

The Internet is a good venue for you to adopt a child. Most adoption websites will help you get through the adoption process. Here are some common factors you may encounter via the Internet when adopting a child:

- Initial process of adopting a child - the things you need to know to start the process
- Information on the selection process and post-adoption process
- Wide selections of adoption institutions
- Support groups
- Photos of children waiting to be adopted

About the Author:

Annecy Ashburn is a regular contributor to adoption and infertility-related resources such as Adoption Questions and Answers. Website: http://www.AdoptionQA.com

Tags: adoption agency, adoption forums, Adoption General Information