Making the decision to adopt is a life-altering, exciting time for new prospective parents. Before being united with your new family, you will need to undergo a thorough process to ensure that you are a good match for your new child. The application and approval period can be long, frustrating, and confusing, but you should not let that deter you from starting a family. There are experienced adoption attorneys that are prepared to help you navigate the system, and ensure you can be united with your new family as soon as possible.
Who Can Adopt?
A wide range of individuals and couples are eligible to adopt. Most families decide to adopt because they are unable to have children themselves, do not wish to bear children themselves, or want to help out a child in need. In South Carolina, the adoption application process requires a series of background checks, medical histories, home inspections, meetings, and eventual trial periods with a child in the home.
Single parents are often eligible to adopt as well, regardless of sexual orientation. Single-parent adoption is actually on the rise in the United States, though it remains more controversial. International adoption is an option for many families as well. Regardless of where the child is born, according to the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2,757 adoptions went through between 1999-2013 in South Carolina alone.
How Long Until I can Start my Family?
When dealing with something as precious as a child’s life, it is not surprising that the application process for adoption can be rigorous. Even after all of the screenings, background checks, and applications go through, child placement may last for up to 12 months before the adoption can be finalized. While this may seem discouraging, these placements are made with the child’s best interest in mind. The South Carolina Department of Social Services has vast resources for you to better understand the process and learn what you need to do to get the ball rolling. There is no need to wait for the “right time” to start a family—thousands of children anxiously await being matched with a family like yours each year. Though most adoptions occur with very young children, usually under one, children of all ages are ready to be adopted and to be cared for by someone like you.
Thinking of Adoption?
With something as important as your family, you do not want just anyone helping you navigate your legal rights. The adoption process can be time consuming, emotional, confusing, and difficult. At Ayers Family Law, we want to be there for you at every step to ensure you can be united with your new family as soon as possible. Our South Carolina adoption attorneys have the working knowledge of the adoption system that can get you through the process as quickly and effectively as possible. Regardless of what stage of the adoption process you are in, or even if you are just considering adoption, the first step is to contact us. Based in South Carolina, our attorneys are prepared to go through the adoption process with you.
