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Many couples have chosen to expand their families through adoption. Learn about the process and about the legality of the adoption of a child.

1. Starting the adoption process
If you have chosen to consider adoption as an extension of your family, there are many considerations that must be done. Support for adoption is available on the Internet, through agencies and lawyers. The use of these resources will help you determine how best to proceed with their adoption. The first step in the process is deciding whether to use an agency or adopt privately. During a private adoption, adoptive parents earn the right to paternity of the child from the mother at birth without the help of an agency. Those using private adoption must use an attorney to help them with the legal process of adoption. Others choose to use agencies, which are nonprofit organizations that help facilitate the adoption. There are two types of adoption agencies that adoptive parents can choose from public and private. Public agencies are generally supported by public resources and help place children in foster care and other into permanent adoptive families. Private adoption agencies are managed without the support of the Treasury and are often built around a community, with a particular religious preference. Both types of adoption agencies provide help to both adoptive parents and biological parents. Many forms of international adoption work through private adoption organization.

2. Adoption Open versus Closed Adoption
A second choice facing those who are thinking of adopting a child, adoption is whether they prefer an open or a closed adoption. Both types of adoption have their advantages and disadvantages. An open adoption is when the child grows up knowing all the details about the adoption. Moreover, the adoptive parents, will remain in contact with the biological mother, leaving you to know about the development and growth of children. Often in an open adoption, the child will have contact with his biological mother. Sometimes, the child will meet with her occasionally. This type of adoption allows the child to know his medical history, while also helping the birth mother to give the decision to place a child for adoption. However, sometimes there is a conflict of interest between the biological mother and adoptive parents. The closed adoption is the more traditional form of adoption. In a closed adoption, the adoptive parents have little contact, if any, with the biological parents. Sometimes the adoptive family does not know the name or contact information for the biological mother. This can create problems for the child if he or she decided to contact the biological mother, at some point. Moreover, private adoptions, the adoptive parents to help solidify the link parent / child with the child, without fear of interference from the biological parents. Many adoptive parents are choosing a balance between open and closed adoption. Although the child may not have frequent contact with the biological mother, there is some exchange of information between the adoptive family and biological mother. In this way, the child is capable of becoming an integral part of the adoptive family, while maintaining access to their medical history and genetics.


3. What is the Household Survey
Once you've decided what kind of institution, if any, will use and what type of adoption desired, you're really ready to begin the adoption process. If you have an adoption guide telling you step by step how to take one of the first things to address is the home study. The home study is required by law in all states of the United States, and serves several purposes. First, the home study aid for adoptive parents to know the adoption process. It also is designed to gather information on the family to help social workers to decide whether they are good candidates for adoption. Finally, the home study helps to assess what is appropriate for the child adoptive family. The specific requirements of the home study can vary depending on the state and the agency that conducted the study. However, parents should avoid treating the family appears to be "perfect". Social workers are looking for safe homes for children, not perfect homes. The process can take several months.


4. Process Study Home
During the home study, parents attend training on the adoption and the needs of adopted children. The social workers interviewed the parents several times to get an idea of the family. The home visits are an important part of the process and are used to determine if the home is a safe place to live children. It may request the parents to take a medical examination to determine whether or not medical conditions that do not allow them to be parents. All families must submit a tax return showing they have enough money to feed, clothe and shelter to ensure the child. Through fingerprints, a background check as part of home study. Some parents are frustrated by the process of studying at home. They may feel that social workers are invasive during interviews, and even may want to forgo adoption. It is important for these parents, remember that the goal of home study is to determine whether or not they are ready for a child, and find a child that is suitable for the family. The goal is to see a happy family, at the end of the adoption process. At the end of the home study, the social worker will determine if the family is ready to adopt. Case in the adoption, pending real start.


5. The anticipation for a New Child
Once the family is approved for adoption, hopefully this should coincide with a potential biological mother or child are looking for a home. This waiting period can be short or too long. For example, parents who are looking to adopt newborn Caucasian, they can wait five years, while parents who are willing to adopt older children and adolescents, can often have a child with them in a relatively short time. In many situations of open and closed adoptions, the parents may have to wait for a biological mother and the adoptive parents choose their child. The waiting time is difficult for most parents, but the arrival of the new child is even sweeter for the expectant family. In the majority of adoptions for children, both the biological mother and the adoptive parents are going to make a summary of their wishes and needs of the adoption. These will be carefully compared by the agency to help find the perfect match. Adoptive parents who are strict requirements on children who want to adopt, usually have to wait longer than parents who are a bit more flexible. For example, parents who specify a gender or race for children who want to adopt, often having to wait longer than parents who are willing to adopt a child of any race or gender.
6. Legal considerations for adoptive parents
Each state has its own laws on adoption, and these laws change frequently. For this reason, many adoptive parents choose to have an attorney to help them through the process of adoption. One of the best ways to learn about the laws of your state, is to follow any news story that you find adoption. For example, you should consider the rights that your state gives the biological parents. There have been recent cases in several states, where the biological father decides that he wants the paternity of the child after the birth mother, has put the child up for adoption. These situations can be complicated and harrowing for the adoptive family. Some of the most important laws that you will have to consider are the laws regarding the transfer of parental rights. This law may have a different name in your state, such as the "consent to adoption or voluntary termination of parental rights." No matter how it is called, but you need to know what happens when you give your new child. In some states, the biological mother, has for some time after birth, before she could sign the adoption papers. In other states, these documents can be signed as soon as the child is born. Remember that even if the biological mother has given you, the adoptive parents, the right to paternity of the child through the appropriate legal documentation, there is always a possibility that she may change his mind. This is one of the most emotionally difficult for adoptive parents. However, most situations are in favor of a successful adoption. The fact of knowing these laws, it will protect from fraud and emotional distress.


7. Special Considerations for International Adoption
Recently, international adoption has become incredibly popular, especially in the United States. Other Americans are looking for this form of adoption as a way to grow their families, even Hollywood celebrities are adopting children in any places around the world. Even if you are already familiar with the traditional form of adoption, it must be aware that there are other laws to consider in respect of Intercountry Adoption. Besides going through the process of legal adoption as you would if adopting an American child, you will also have to work through the immigration laws to ensure that your child is new to the country legally. You will have to apply for a visa for his son before bringing it to the America, for example. Most of the time, those seeking to adopt internationally, will work with an international adoption agency that is able to help with immigration requirements, as part of the global adoption. Many of these international organizations that provide a guide to international adoption, to help parents work through the process step by step.


8. The cost of adoption
It is often said that the adoptive parents to adopt, cost a fortune. Many infertile couples do not consider adoption as an option, simply because they feel that there is no way they can afford, the cost of an adoption. Definitely there is a cost that should be considered when you want to take but you do not need to be rich to consider adoption. In fact, the adoption can cost as little or as much depending on the details of the adoption. Those who adopt privately or through an agency, can calculate spend $ 5000 and $ 40,000 for adoption. Often, there are some travel expenses included in this figure, as well as the costs for the presentation of all legal formalities for the formal adoption. International adoptions almost always cost more, simply because the large amount of travel and expenses involved in the immigration process. Those seeking to adopt internationally can calculate pay between $ 7,000 and $ 30,000 for the whole process. There are two things you almost always have to pay to adopt the home study and legal fees. The home study can cost between $ 1000 and $ 3000, and this fee is charged by the social worker. Sometimes, they take through the system of foster care, will not have to pay a lot for your home study. The documentation of the Court to adopt a cost between $ 500 and $ 2000, depending on the state, and legal representation for adoption can cost between $ 2500 and $ 12,000.


9. Finalizing an Adoption
Therefore, when an adopted child becomes truly yours? Again, this varies depending on the laws of the state where you live. In most states, the process of finalizing an adoption takes about six months. At birth, the birth mother signed the documents of the sale, handing over the rights of paternity of the child to new parents, however, this does not complete the adoption. The child will be placed in the home of the adoptive parents for six months. At this point, the social worker will present a recommendation for approval of adoption. Then, the family appeared before a judge in court, to finalize the adoption. At this point, the adoptive parents assume all rights and responsibilities that are normally given to the child's parents. The adoption is completed, and the adoptive family is the new child to have planned for long months of preparation and waiting.