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Important Tips to Consider Before You Adopt

Have you and your spouse been considering adopting a child? It can be an arduous process, but one that’s also richly rewarding. The following are a few tips to help you prepare for the process before you get started:

  • Build your knowledge base: Read and learn all that you can about the adoption process from people who have gone through it. Read books, visit websites and support forums and, most importantly, speak with adoptive parents and visit adoption support groups. This will help you to get a better sense of the potential path forward.
  • Get the help of professionals: These professionals may include attorneys, social workers and adoption agency case workers. Meet with these professionals and attend informational public meetings if they are available. It’s good to start building a network of professionals you can rely on once you begin the adoption process.
  • Consider your finances: Get a clear idea of how much the type of adoption you are considering will cost. Research all the grants available from public and private sources, along with various loan options designed specifically for adoptive parents.
  • Perform a home study: A social worker or adoption agency will perform a home study to determine your capability to serve as an adoptive parent. To prepare for this study, make sure you have notarized copies of documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, financial statements, medical examinations, psychological evaluations, passports, INS documents and anything else the agency requests.
  • Research the child’s history: You should be well-versed with the child’s medical history and his or her social/emotional issues and background. Pediatricians and child psychologists can give you more information about what to expect.

For more information and guidance on how you can best prepare for adoption, speak with an experienced Minnesota family law attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.

By Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. | Published May 3, 2018 | Posted in Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law | Tagged adoption, tips on adoption

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