| An associate of mine finds it very interesting that | | | | Most states require that you be living at your current |
| any couple in this world, no matter how rich or poor, | | | | residence for at least 60 days. |
| no matter what they do for a living, no matter if | | | | So who can BE adopted? Generally, anyone under |
| they have a criminal record or not, no matter what | | | | the age of 18. Of course depending on the state |
| kind of persons they are, can have as many kids as | | | | there are some additional requirements. For example, |
| they like and nobody can say one word about it. | | | | in some states the child has to be living in that state |
| But when a middle class, hard working, law abiding | | | | at the time of the adoption. So if you wanted to |
| couple wants to adopt a child they have to jump | | | | adopt someone from overseas you wouldn't be able |
| through more hoops than a clown at a three ring | | | | to. In some states this extends further to the child |
| circus. He wonders why. | | | | having to be a resident for a certain length of time. |
| In this article we'll try to explain some of the | | | | Some states do allow the adoption of a person |
| problems and red tape associated with a couple | | | | regardless of age but this is very rare. |
| trying to adopt a child. | | | | Then there is the question of WHO can place a child |
| For starters, adoption law varies from state to state. | | | | for adoption. This is usually the birth parent or |
| Yes, there are laws, and depending on where you | | | | parents unless both are dead and then it is the |
| live those laws can be quite different but there are | | | | agency to which custody of the child was appointed. |
| some laws that are pretty common across the | | | | But this gets even more complicated. What if the |
| board. There is the Consent to Adoption. This | | | | birth mother and father are not married and the |
| consent refers to the agreement by a parent, or a | | | | mother wants to put the child up for adoption but |
| person or agency acting in place of a parent, to | | | | the father does not? This becomes an extremely |
| relinquish the child for adoption and to release all | | | | messy situation. First there is the court battle |
| rights and duties with respect to that child. In other | | | | between the mother and father to determine who |
| words before you can adopt the child the birth | | | | gets the say in the matter. In most cases unless the |
| parent or agency in charge, if the birth parents are | | | | mother is proven unfit the right to place the child up |
| dead, has to give consent for the adoption to take | | | | for adoption is granted. If not, however, then a |
| place. | | | | determination has to be made as to whether or not |
| Then there is the parties to adoption. In order for an | | | | the father is given custody of the child. We are |
| adoption to take place, a person available to be | | | | assuming at this point that since he was against the |
| adopted must be placed in the home of a person or | | | | adoption that he will want to keep the child, but he is |
| persons eligible to adopt. All States, the District of | | | | in no way legally obligated to do this and can put the |
| Columbia, and the US territories Guam, Puerto Rico, | | | | child up for adoption at a later date. |
| American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and | | | | Then there are the adoption fees. In most states |
| the Virgin Islands have laws that specify which | | | | the adoptive parents have to pay these fees and |
| persons are eligible as adopting parents, and which | | | | they can be enormous, going into the tens of |
| persons can be adopted. In other words they decide | | | | thousands of dollars. My associate thinks this is |
| whether or not they think the adoptive parents are | | | | absurd. The parents don't want the child but it's the |
| fit and this varies from state to state. | | | | adoptive parents who have to pay to get the child |
| So who CAN adopt? Generally speaking anyone over | | | | even though the child isn't wanted. Some would say |
| the age of 18 but in some states 21 and still in others | | | | that is hard logic to argue with. As you can see, |
| the minimum age is 25. Again, this is all state | | | | adoption is not simple. Add to all the above that the |
| regulated. There are some states that allow minors | | | | adoption process can be a very lengthy one, |
| to adopt under certain circumstances but this is very | | | | sometimes taking years, it makes you wonder why |
| rare. In some states the adopting parents must be at | | | | anyone would go through the trouble. For that |
| least 10 years older than the child. So if you want to | | | | matter why would someone have to when there are |
| adopt a 15 year old boy you have to be at least 25 | | | | so many unwanted children in the world? |
| years of age. Then there is the residency question. | | | | It gives you something to think about. |