Adoption Requirements

The limiting adoption requirements for a placement and adoption are a concern of most adoptive persons. It is important you be aware of these limitations to avoid wasted time, money, and heartache.

In any placement and child adoption there are 5 entities that have a say in the requirements that must be met.  The first one is the birth parents.  The birth mother and birth father may decide to place their child only with a couple or single person, with persons of only a specific religious faith, persons of certain ages, only with those living in a specific state, etc.

The next two entities are the federal government and the state, both of which have restrictions mandated by law; for example, restrictions on placements that may involve a Native American Indian child or placement with a gay or lesbian.

The the fourth entity is you (the adopting family) since you may only want to adopt a child from a certain state, a child of only a specific race or cultural heritage, a "drug free" child, or place some other restrictions on the child you hope to adopt.

The last entity is the adoption agency since many adoption agencies will not place children transracially, with singles, with persons of certain faiths, etc.

Your goal is to find a potential placement where your restrictions and the restrictions of the birth parents, the state and federal governments, and the child adoption agency are all consistent with each other.

This matching process is one of the responsibilities of a licensed child adoption agency such as Adoption Services.  At Adoption Services we match your requirements, the requirements of the birth mother and birth father, the requirements of the state and federal government, and our restriction that you are be able provide a warm, loving, safe and supportive environment for a child and successfully complete the Home Study process.

Our Agency, Adoption Services, has worked with adopting families and birth parents from all over the world.  We have helped children find loving parents from many different religions and racial and ethnic backgrounds. We have helped people of all ages, whether in their twenties or fifties become adoptive parents. Our adopting families have included divorced persons as well as singles and newlyweds, families where both parents work full-time, families living in mobile homes and apartments, and families who already have children.

The following outlines the approval/disapproval criteria that Adoption Services uses in working with adopting persons.

1. We have no preset agency restrictions except your ability to be a good parent, compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and successful completion of our Registration, Application, and Home Study processes. We will work with an adult of any age, sex, race, or ethnic background, marital status, length of marriage, family composition, religion, etc.

2. Each adopting person must complete required state criminal history, child abuse, and FBI clearances. Additionally, each adopting person is required to submit a sworn statement indicating whether he/she has ever been charged with or convicted of a crime in any state and/or other jurisdiction. If there is evidence of any criminal or child abuse history, we will thoroughly investigate the circumstances. If the investigation suggests that an adopting person could be unfit, and/or there is a founded child abuse record or a conviction of a barrier crime (i.e. crime that the state has determined automatically prohibits a person from adopting), Adoption Services will not place a child with the family.

3. Multiple personal and work references for each applicant must be provided. Recent physical examinations (within the past six months) and medical references must also be provided. These medical references must indicate a “normal” life expectancy and lack of any communicable diseases.

4. You may be required to obtain written clearances from the provider of any specialized health care you have received.

5. We ask you to describe the discipline techniques you plan to use with the adopted child. These techniques must be consistent with current psychological practices regarding the use of discipline, and they must comply with the laws in your state of residence.

6. Married adopting persons who are not able to demonstrate that they have a stable marriage and/or if they have undergone a marital separation within the past year, ASI may request an independent evaluation of their marriage.

7. Your home must be a safe environment for a child, must be inspected by a licensed adoption agency, and must meet all the requirements of an approved home according to your state’s laws and regulations.

8. Adoption Services must receive copies of your Tax Returns for the past three years showing financial stability.

9. You must be truthful and forthcoming in the information you provide. You will be disapproved and lose all fees paid if you provide information that is false and/or misleading.

10. You must complete all Adoption Services documents and comply with federal, state, and local adoption laws and regulations.

11. In our Domestic Programs, you should be willing to accept a child of either gender, although you can specify the health, racial mix that you will accept, and other criteria.

12. In International adoptions, each country has its own set of requirements such as age, marital status, sexual orientation, health history, and/or criminal history that you must meet.

Adoption Services is able to help you regardless of your state or country of residence and we have special programs for military and expatriate families.

For additional help with an adoption agency child adoption please visit the link Selecting an adoption Agency.  You can also find a list of adoption agencies in your state and neighboring states at the link Domestic Adoption Agencies.

If you need or want some specific personal advice contact Dr. Vince Berger, a psychologist and adoption professional.

Please visit our home page to read about our commitment to assist adoptive parents like you as well as pregnant women and birth parents.