Adopting is a wonderful thing that makes a huge impact on a child’s life. Through adoption, children with nothing can be given the loving, caring, and stable home they need and deserve.
There’s currently a desperate need for adoptive parents in the United States, with more than 120,000 children waiting for adoption.
However, some potential parents are put off the idea of adopting because they don’t know how hard it is (see also “What To Know Before Adopting“).
Adopting may seem like a painstaking process, but if everything is done correctly, there’s no reason things can’t run smoothly.
If you’ve considered adopting a child but you don’t know what to expect, you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, we’ll tell you how hard it is to adopt, the factors that affect how long it takes, and some key things you need to know before you start the process.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Is It Hard To Adopt A Child?
We’ll get straight to the point by answering the main question that brought you to this post. The answer to the question is it hard to adopt a child is yes and no.
This might not have been the answer you came here looking for but it’s the honest one.
The process of adoption can be long, emotional, and complicated. There are many legal and financial roadblocks you have to overcome to become an adoptive parent. However, as scary as things sound, it can be easy too.
If you have everything in order and prepare everything before you go through the process, things will move quicker and smoother. Besides, most adoptive parents will tell you that the whole journey is deeply fulfilling.
What Is The Hardest Part Of Adoption?
Adoption can be hard but the things that make it hard aren’t actually what you would think. It is widely accepted by most adoptive parents that the hardest part of adoption is the wait.
Depending on how things go and who is the right fit for a particular child, adoption can take up to seven years. Therefore, potential parents have to put a lot of time and commitment into finally adopting a child.
It isn’t uncommon for adoptive parents to be rejected for two or three children before finally being given the chance to adopt.
This isn’t necessarily anything the parents have done wrong, it is simply a sign that a better match was found.
How Easy Is The Process?
When it comes to the actual process of getting ready to adopt, things aren’t that difficult. In fact, if you stay organized, the process of being accepted as a potential adoptive parent can be quite easy.
In America, there are three pathways to adoption. Parents can adopt through the foster care system, through a private attorney, and internationally.
All three of these routes require the parents to pass various checks and potentially participate in adoption classes.
Once again, the adoption process is generally considered rewarding and interesting as opposed to difficult. Having said that, unorganized and unprepared parents will find the process difficult.
Who Can Adopt A Child?
Before you can even think about adopting a child, you have to make sure you’re eligible to do so. In the U.S., to adopt a child, you must be:
An American citizen
At least 18 years old
At least 25 years old if unmarried
These are the three basic rules that surround adoption in the US. There are usually more rules than this but they vary from state to state, so you would have to check with your local government first.
Things You Need To Know Before Adopting
The best way to ensure success when adopting is to go into the process knowing exactly what to expect. Going into the process prepared will make things run more smoothly without any hiccups that could set you back.
To make things easier for you, we’ve outlined some of the key things you need to know before adopting below.
Choose The Right Adoption Professionals
One of the most important things you have to do when adopting is choose the right adoption professionals. This can be a daunting task but if you get it right, you’ll find the adoption process much easier.
You can find adoption professionals in your area online. You can also use the Child Welfare Information Gateway to find the state-certified adoption agencies in your area.
It doesn’t matter which route you take, you will be required to complete a home study at some point during the adoption process.
This process clears the way for you to be able to legally adopt, therefore, you should prepare effectively for it.
Preparing for a home study will give you an increased chance of passing the first time.
As you can imagine, this then speeds up the process and keeps things moving. You’ll want to get this right as it can take up to six months and several visits to complete.
Understand The Costs
You also need to know the costs involved with adoption. This includes your personal finances that will fund the child and any costs you might incur during the process.
Adoption through the foster care system is free but other pathways can cost a significant amount.
It is also worth noting that your finances will be scrutinized during the adoption process, so we recommend getting your finances in order first.
Know Your Limits
Finally, you must know your limits. If you’re not honest with yourself when going into the process, you’ll quickly find that the system won’t let you adopt (see also “How To Adopt A Newborn Baby Quickly“).
Knowing what you can handle and how a child will fit into your family will make it easier for you and the system to find a suitable child for your family.
Final Thoughts
In this post, we’ve told you how hard it is to adopt. Whilst the overall feeling towards the process from many adoptive parents is that it is hard, things can be a lot easier if you prepare effectively.
We’ve told you what makes adoption hard, what makes it easier, and how you can make the process easier for yourself.
Adoption is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Therefore, no matter how hard the process is, the fulfillment you’ll feel throughout the journey far outweighs any problems you might face.
Hi, I’m Joan Crassel, and I started my firm in 2006, with the goal to help and represent clients in a range of adoption-related matters.
Since then, the firm has gone on to aid hundreds of clients in adoption proceedings, and in other areas of family law.
With this site, I hope that you can find all of the answers that you are looking for, with in depth guides and informative articles from lawyers, not bloggers or social media influencers. We have actual first-hand knowledge of the adoption process, and can provide you with insight that no one else can.
