| Adopting a child allows you to open your heart and | | | | birth and given over to the adoptive parents. In |
| home to another human person. Few things are more | | | | other cases, a child is available for adoption once the |
| glorious. Couples choose to adopt for many reasons, | | | | parent terminates his or her parental right. This |
| but the end result is the same: they want a child to | | | | termination can be either willing or unwilling. If the |
| love. If you are interested in adoption, you should | | | | termination of parental rights is unwilling, a state |
| understand all aspects before making this important | | | | agency has deemed the parent unfit and this decision |
| decision. A multitude of resources are available. Your | | | | has been decided by a court of law. In cases where |
| local library is an excellent tool for researching | | | | the child does not have a parent or guardian, he or |
| adoption. In addition, the Internet is a fabulous tool | | | | she is considered ward of the state and the adoption |
| not only for providing information about adoption, but | | | | will be decided using the laws of that particular state. |
| also to meet other individuals who have adopted or | | | | Inter-country adoptions are when children are |
| are hoping to adopt. Many opportunities exist in your | | | | adopted outside of your country of residence. These |
| community to meet with other adoptive parents. This | | | | adoptions are often more labor-intensive and can |
| process is an emotional one, and having a support | | | | take longer since you must meet all requirements set |
| group of people who know what you are | | | | forth by two countries - the child's country and your |
| experiencing is an important tool in helping you | | | | own. Similarly, the cost of inter-country adoptions is |
| succeed in this process. | | | | usually greater than domestic adoptions and can |
| Before you decide on adopting a child, you must first | | | | include several trips to the child's country. It is |
| understand the process. Adoption involves three | | | | strongly suggested you deal with an agency or |
| different entities: the birth parent(s), the adoptive | | | | attorney to facilitate inter-country adoptions, since |
| parent(s), and most importantly, the child. In some | | | | there are more laws and regulations that must be |
| instances, if the birth parents are either unknown or | | | | met. For example, in order for a child to immigrate to |
| deceased, the state or government takes the place | | | | the United States, the child must be considered an |
| of this entity. Any child under the age of 18 is | | | | orphan. This may or may not be the case literally, but |
| available for adoption. A common myth is that only | | | | if the parental rights were terminated (either willingly |
| babies or young children are adoptable. This is | | | | or not), the child is considered an orphan and is |
| completely false, as many older children await a loving | | | | considered adoptable. Depending on the country you |
| family to call their own. In additional to being a | | | | choose to adopt from, the rules, cost, and waiting |
| emotional process, adoption is a legal process, and all | | | | will all differ. Some countries are more equipped to do |
| items must be taken care of to ensure the legality of | | | | inter-country adoption than others. Similarly, some |
| the adoption. A number of lawyers and firms deal | | | | countries will be able to give potential adoptive |
| specifically with adoptive law, so all who are | | | | parents an estimated time frame for the adoption, |
| interested in adopting are strongly encouraged to | | | | so the parents can plan accordingly. |
| seek the advice of these professionals. | | | | However you choose to adopt, research and |
| When seriously considering adoption, you should be | | | | education is the key. The more you know and |
| aware of all the options available. There are two main | | | | understand the process, the more apt you will be to |
| types of adoptions you should consider: domestic | | | | anticipate any problems, and the more successful you |
| adoptions and inter-country adoptions. Domestic | | | | will be in your goal - to bring a child into your home. |
| adoptions take place within the country are currently | | | | To find more information about adoption options, just |
| residing. There are many agencies available to help | | | | log on to the Internet and visit locations such as [ to |
| you adopting a child in your country of residence, and | | | | do a thorough search. Remember, you may |
| this is by far the most widely used option for | | | | encounter many obstacles on your road to adoption, |
| adoption. In some cases, the child is adopted before | | | | but the end result is well worth the time, effort, and |
| the mother has given birth. In these cases, the child | | | | energy. |
| is immediately removed from the birth parent(s) upon | | | | Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved. |