The Different Types of Adoption

No two adoptions are alike. Adoption is a legal process to add a child to an adoptive home. Prospective adoptive parents have several options when pursuing an adoption. They can choose between an independent adoption, or they can use an adoption agency. They can adopt a child from the foster care system or a foreign country. The type of adoption impacts the path prospective adoptive parents take during the adoption process.

Here are a few frequently asked questions about different types of adoption:

What Should I Know About The Adoption Process?

Although adoption laws and legal requirements vary from state to state, most adoptions have similar features. For example, birth parents relinquish their parental rights in all adoptions. All legal adoptions are court approved. If the prospective adoptive parents decide to use an adoption agency, they must use a licensed adoption agency.

Almost all prospective parents undergo a home study. A social worker gathers information on prospective parents in a home study. They also conduct a home visit. The social worker compiles a report after completing the home study. Agencies use the home study to match prospective adoptive families with prospective adoptees. An adoption attorney then files a petition for adoption in family court. Once the court approves the adoption, the adoptive parents are the adopted child's legal parents.

What Are the Different Types of Adoption?

Families are unique, as are the options available to expand a family. There is an option for anyone who wants to welcome a child into their home. A few of these options include:

• Open Adoption is an adoption in which the birth parents and the adoptive parents agree to remain in touch after the adopted child's birth. The parents agree on the terms of their ongoing contact.

• Closed Adoption-in closed adoptions, the parents have no contact with each other. In most adoptions, the court will seal the adoption records. Most states have a process for the adoptee to unseal their adoption records.

• Independent-in an independent adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive parents connect without the help of an agency. In most states, both parents receive legal advice from an adoption attorney.

• Private Agency Adoption-in a private adoption, both sets of parents engage a licensed adoption agency to facilitate the adoption of a child. Private adoption agencies charge a fee for their adoption services.

• Public Adoption Agency Adoption-the adoption of children in the foster care system—or state wards—go through public adoption agencies. This includes foster care adoption. In foster care adoption, foster parents adopt the child they foster.

• Stepparent Adoption-in stepparent adoptions, one spouse adopts their spouse's child.

• Relative Adoption-in a relative or kinship adoption, a child's relative steps forward to adopt them. For example, an aunt adopts her sibling's child if that child is available for adoption.
• International Adoption- in intercountry adoptions, prospective parents adopt a child from a different country.

What Type of Adoption Is Most Common?

Infant adoption is the most common type of adoption. Many prospective adoptive parents want to adopt an infant.

What Is the Least Expensive Type of Adoption?

Compared to other types of adoption, foster care adoption is the least expensive type of adoption. Using a private adoption agency ranges from $30,000 to $60,000. Independent adoptions, using an adoption attorney range from $25,000 to $45,000. Prospective parents pay between $20,000 and $50,000 for international adoption. By contrast, adopting a child from the child welfare system is free. Adoptive families that welcome a special needs child often qualify for adoption assistance.

What Is the Difference Between a Public Agency and a Private Agency?

Adoption agencies can be a public agency or a private agency regulated by the state and licensed to place children with prospective adoptive parents.

Public adoption agencies work with children in the foster care system. Children in the foster care system include orphaned children, older children, and child abuse survivors. Adoptions through public adoption agencies are free. Most states offer adoption assistance for children with special needs.

Private adoption agencies charge fees for their services. Also, private agencies are more likely to offer infant adoption.

What Is the Difference Between an Open and Closed Adoption?

In an open adoption, the biological parents maintain contact after relinquishing their parental rights. One advantage of open adoption is the adopted child can maintain contact with their birth family. This may help their self-esteem and their identity development.

Can I Adopt a Child From a Foreign Country?

Anyone meeting the criteria for an intercountry adoption may pursue this type of adoption. To adopt a child who is a citizen of a foreign country, you must satisfy both the laws of the state where you live and the laws of the host country. Parents must also obtain an immigrant visa for the child through the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The Hague Adoption Convention regulates international adoptions. The treaty governs the U.S. federal government's oversight of domestic adoption agencies and international adoption policies. This oversight aims to protect children, biological parents, and adoptive parents from unethical adoption practices. These practices include international child abductions and adoption scams.

The U.S. Department of State certifies international adoption agencies. Many adoptive parents use an American agency that specializes in international adoptions.

I Want To Adopt My Step-Child. What Are the Steps in Step-Child Adoption?

In a stepparent adoption, a stepparent adopts their partner's child. The process is simple compared to traditional adoption when both birth parents consent. If one of the parents disagrees, the process of adoption gets complicated. The couple must petition the court to terminate the non-custodial parent's rights. According to the child welfare information gateway, children over ten must consent in some states.

What Are the Steps in an Independent Adoption?

There is no agency involvement in an independent adoption. Instead, the birth mother and the adoptive parents have an agreement between themselves. If his identity is known, the birth father must relinquish his parental rights.

Facilitators for independent adoption include physicians, adoption attorneys, or clergy members. In many states, all parties must receive legal counsel as part of the adoption process. The purpose of this is to ensure everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.

Some states prohibit independent adoptions, and many states regulate them extensively. Check your state's laws before exploring this option.

Can I Adopt My Grandchild?

Yes. This type of adoption is a relative adoption or kinship adoption. In a relative adoption, family members adopt a child relative. Typical candidates for this type of adoption are grandparents, aunts, and uncles. This adoption type may follow the birth parent's death or incapacitation.

Can I Adopt an Adult?

Adult adoptions are rare, but many states permit them. Typically, there must be at least a ten-year difference between the age of the parent and that of the adult being adopted, and the parties must show why it's in the best interest of the parties to allow the adoption.

The primary reason why people undergo adult adoption is to secure inheritance rights for people of which they've grown fond, especially when they don't have children of their own. Most states prohibit adult adoptions when caregivers are involved. Such prohibitions are meant to prevent caregivers from taking advantage of their elderly patients.

Get Help

Anyone considering adoption has many choices to make. An experienced, local family law attorney can provide legal advice on choosing a type of adoption and more.