If you long for a child but can’t (or don’t want to) have one on your own, you may want to consider adoption. Adoption is the act of taking on the legal responsibility of raising a child that isn’t biologically yours. This can be a wonderful way to be able to experience the true gift of parenthood.

Domestic Adoption

Domestic adoption, or adopting a baby in the United States, is a common, and viable, choice for many people. This is a great way to help someone in this country and can also often eliminate cross-cultural complications that come when you adopt a child from other parts of the world.

Worth The Wait

If you want to adopt a baby in the United States, it can take anywhere from a year or two to get a child on up to about a five-year wait. Some of the variables that can affect this timeframe include the age of the child you desire, the type of adoption (such as through the public system or through a private agency) and whether you are willing to take on a child with special needs. In addition, adopting a child within your same state can often be a more efficient process than completing the paperwork and legal requirements when you cross state borders.

Criteria

There are certain requirements people must be able to meet in order to legally adopt a child. These can vary from state to state, but often include age (the minimum age to adopt is 21), relationship status (some states allow single parents and same sex couples to adopt) and health and income. You must also pass a background check and have no criminal record.

Different Types Of Domestic Adoptions

If you are interested in domestic option, there are basically three paths you can take:

Private Agency

First, you can look into going with a private agency, which is relies on a middleman to make arrangements between you and a newborn who is being put up for adoption by the biological parent or parents. In a private adoption, adopting parents may be required to cover some or all of the biological mother’s health and living expenses during the pregnancy and labor, and will usually pay a fee for the agency’s efforts and time facilitating the arrangements.

Independent Arrangement

Another option is to work out an “independent” arrangement, contracting directly with the biological mother or a representative for the baby. In such a case, you will still need to cover legal fees and expenses, so the costs will often be similar to going through a private agency.