Adopting a Child From Your Local Community

Originally published by Family and Criminal Law Blog.

What is the process to adopt a child from foster care?

Recently, Bastrop County held a special adoption day.  Twenty-eight children from 17 different families found forever homes at the Bastrop County Courthouse as a part of November’s National Adoption Awareness Month.  In a courtroom lovingly decorated with balloons and banners, adoptions were processed one by one.  The newly formed families cheered as their long-held dreams became a reality with the adoptions finalized.  

Consider Adopting From Foster Care 

There are currently over 3,900 children waiting to be adopted in the state of Texas.  Nationally, there are more than 100,000 children in foster care.  Children enter the foster care system through no fault of their own.  These children often come from families with a history of neglect, abuse, incarceration, drug issues, and the like.  Children taken from their homes are placed into foster care while the birth parents are allowed an opportunity to reunite with their children if they can complete a specific set of requirements developed by the court.

Fewer than half of all foster children are ever returned to their birth families.  The remainder of children will become available for adoption.  Children in foster care range in ages from infants to teens.  Foster care children desperately need loving families to provide them with security.  For parents interested in adopting from foster care, the process is far faster and less expensive than most other types of adoption. 

The Process of Adopting From Foster Care 

As you start the process of potentially adopting a child from foster care, you will need to first do your research.  Schedule a consultation with an adoption attorney who can walk you through the adoption process and explore your adoption options.  You will need to prove to the court that you are financially stable and responsible in order to adopt.  You need not be married.  You will have to complete a home study which will include discussions with all members of the family. 
Adopting can be the first step towards completing your family.  Contact an adoption law attorney today to start the adoption journey.  Adoption can be confusing and nerve-wracking, but with the help of your adoption lawyer, you can experience the joys of adding to your family.

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.

from Texas Bar Today http://ift.tt/2Dv1cEz
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