Adoption has been on your mind since you witnessed the last adoption event in your area. You met children who had been orphaned at a fundraiser. Some were in foster homes, and others were waiting in the care of the Department of Social Services.
No matter what the cost and how long it takes, you want to move forward with an adoption to get a child out of the system. What should you do, and what can you expect? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Adoption requires home studies
If you panic when you think about someone coming into your home, you may have to get used to it if you want to adopt. Adoptions require home studies, because the licensed agency wants to make sure your home is safe for a child. The home has to be examined for cleanliness and safety along with making sure there’s room for the adoptable child. The home study also looks at if you’re able to afford having a child in your home and finds out how much experience you have with children. The professionals who visit your home also want to get to know you and make sure you’re in good physical and mental health.
2. Adoption isn’t immediate
Unlike the stories you may have heard about people bringing their children home immediately following an adoption, California doesn’t treat adoption that way. Before an adoption is finalized, adoptive parents must have the child in their home for at least six months. This is waived for those who have previously adopted, if this is a relative or stepparent adoption or if the applicant is in the military or American Red Cross.
These are just a few things to keep in mind about an adoption in California. Your attorney can help you file the appropriate documents, so you can bring your child home soon.
Source: Adoption.com, “Adoption In California,” accessed March 07, 2018