PollenTree

Legal FAQs for Adoption

Will I have control over the kind of child I adopt?
You can certainly specify in your application the type of child you are looking for but adoption requires you to be flexible as children who are available for adoption can vary in ages, sex and racial and cultural background. The numbers of babies available for adoption is much lower than toddlers for example. Some countries may have more girls than boys available for adoption or vice versa. There may be many children with special needs who need a home. You cannot guarantee that you will be matched exactly with the child you want but the adoption agencies will do their best if you specify a preference.


What can I expect if I adopt a special needs child?
The term special needs is used to describe children who have a history of painful or traumatic experiences (e.g. neglect, abuse), or children with developmental or physical difficulties or children from large families who need to be placed together with their brothers and sisters.


What is the homestudy process?
This varies from country to country but involves an adoption practitioner such as a social worker assessing the applicants. It usually happens for both ‘home’ and overseas adoptions. In particular the applicants will be given information about the adoption process and will be asked their reasons for adopting and their expectations of adoption and whether the applicants are open to the possibility of the child having some contact with the birth parents such as through photographs and letters.


What information can I expect to receive about the child?
Usually adoption agencies will share information with you about the child’s social and medical history, any behavioural or emotional difficulties the child suffers from and the child’s intellectual ability. This information is shared once the child has been ‘matched’ with your requirements.


How do adoption agencies go about ‘matching’ a child with a family?
They will usually look at the values, lifestyle, education, age and culture of the applicants. They may also look at other characteristics. For example some countries do not allow adoption by single people or same sex couples.


Once my adoption application is approved can the child come home with me immediately?
After a child is ‘placed’ with a family there is usually a waiting period before the child moves in. This varies from country to country and may be weeks or months. This way any problems which might arise with the new relationship can be worked out.


Can I adopt from any country?
No. Some countries are completely closed to adoption by foreign nationals and other countries only allow adoptions from citizens of countries that it has an agreement with.


Once I start the adoption process abroad can I guarantee that my application will be processed?
File processing can be delayed or suspended by a country for many reasons such as political turmoil in the country, health warnings or changes in legislation. There is no guarantee that your application will be processed in all cases.


How do I go about finding out about the adoption process in a particular country?
The best starting point is to contact the country’s Embassy if one is based in your own country. They will be able to give you information or point you to the correct government department or adoption organisation.


Will my adopted child automatically be entitled to citizenship in my country?
No. Each country has its own rules on immigration and rights of entry for children adopted overseas. These rules are usually applied on a case-by-case basis. Most countries will issue a temporary visa and then require the application to be formalised and approved by the courts in your own country. You should check with consular officials in your country about the requirements to ensure you have all the necessary paperwork to apply for an immigrant visa for the child.


Should children be told that they are adopted?
Yes. Child experts recommend that children are told that they are adopted and usually told as early as possible so that it becomes known and accepted by them and they are then likely to associate adoption with positive feelings from an early age. Children who discover in their teens or later life that they have been adopted are thought to have more problems coming to terms with this and trusting their adoptive parents.