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Maine Adoption

Maine Adoption

 

How Do I Secure a Maine Adoption?

To adopt in Maine, you must e-mail the state’s Child and Family Services Department. The email must display your interest in securing a Maine Adoption and must also affirm your residency in the state. To contact your local department of Health and Human Services please www.maine.gov/dhhs/DHSaddresses.htm. 

After contacting your local Department of health and Human Services office, you must go over the general requirements of a Maine Adoption; these requirements include minimum age, residency issues etc. After observing these requirements you will be invited to attend an informational gathering with other families looking to secure Maine adoptions. This meeting will explain the following requirements of an ME adoption:

• The meeting will go over the characteristics and ages of the children with special needs that are placed for Maine adoptions

• The meeting will help your family develop and understand reasonable expectations concerning your abilities to satisfy special needs children

• The meeting will go over the eligibility standards implemented by the state

• And lastly, the meeting will discuss the stages of the foster and/or adoptive care process and times for completing said stages

Maine Adoption Training:

After the informational meeting you will be invited to attend the state’s Adoptive and Foster Family Training course, which consists of 24 hours of prep training for parenting children with special needs. This course is administered in eight weekly sessions or over four consecutive Saturdays. 

Maine Adoption: The Family Study Program

With a Maine adoption you and your family will be asked to construct autobiographies and participate in several interviews with a social worker. These interviews are an essential part of the Maine adoption process; they allow you and the social worker the opportunity to discuss how your family functions, it’s strengths, weaknesses and how that may affect your prospective Maine adoption.

Maine Adoption: Matching and Placement

Once you have completed the study and training process, and are approved by the Maine adoption agency, you will be given a photo-listing of children available for ME adoption. The list of children is selected for you based on your ability’s to meet the child’s unique needs; the focus of the Maine Child and Family Services agency is to find the right families for adoptive children. When a match is affirmed, a complete presentation of the child’s history and unique needs are presented. 

After the matching process, the Maine adoption will proceed with a negotiation process. This procedure is implemented to provide adoption assistance to your family, depending on the needs of the child and the circumstances of your family. The Maine adoption process is then followed by “visitation” times which may last from several days to several weeks, depending on the needs of the individual family/child. 

Maine Adoptions: Post Placement

When children are placed in your home, you will host home visits to help “fine tune” the adjustment process. These visits will last at least 6 months or until the agency can recommend the Maine adoption to be legalized in local court. To facilitate this process you may hire an adoption attorney to represent you in formal court. Following the adoption hearing in probate court, you will maintain sole legal responsibility for your child. 

Maine Adoption: Post-Legalization Maine Adoption Services

The Child and Family Services agency views Maine adoptions as lifelong processes. All adopting families in Maine experience normal “developmental” crises in their lifetimes. Maine adoption agencies provide Adoption Assistance Programs through various subsidies, medical insurance through Medicaid and other services to ensure that ME adoptions are carried out in the most efficient manner possible. The agency’s caseworkers are available to provide consultation, including help via post Maine adoption parent support groups. 

Maine Adoptions: Who are the Children Available for Adoption through the Department of health and Human Services?

Prospective Maine adoptions through the Department of Health and Human Services make children of all ages who have experienced loss or trauma available. Children typically up for ME adoptions need families that can provide unconditional love and nurturing; these children need an abundance of attention to fulfill their extreme physical, emotional and mental needs. 

What Maine Adoption Services are Available through Private Agencies?

The bulk of private agencies provide birthparent services and counseling, as well as home studies and private adoptions to prospective Maine parents. Moreover, ME adoption services facilitate with the placement of infants and special needs children of all ages from Maine, the U.S. and several foreign countries. Some ME adoption agencies will also provide support agencies, search services and educational services to those involved in the Maine adoption process. 

Who is allowed to secure a Maine Adoption?

Any unmarried individual or married may adopt according to Maine law on adoption. Adoptive parents may take any form; adoptive parents as varied as biological parents. The only thing ME adoption agencies care about is one characteristic: the adoptive parents must accept the child into their home as a member of their family. 

How do I Find a ME Adoption Agency?

Maine adoptions may be processed by eight licensed full time private adoption agencies and 13 offices of the Department of Health and Human Services. Each agency provides a variety of adoption services throughout the state of Maine. Each Maine adoption agency has its own eligibility requirements and maintains its own file of prospective parents. Some Maine adoption agencies have Maine adoptions services for children with certain needs or characteristics; however, each Maine adoption agency must adhere to Interstate Placement Requirements. 

Montana Adoption

Montana Adoption

 

Laws and Procedures Associated with Montana Adoption:

In 2003, there were over 500 prospective adoptive children in custody of Montana’s Department of Social and Health Services. The purpose of Montana’s adoption program is to satisfy the permanency needs of children. The Montana Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for finding stable and safe families that can effectively meet the needs of adopted children.

How Do I start an MT Adoption?

What to consider when pursuing a MT Adoption:

• Choose the desired sex: do you want to adopt a boy or girl?

• What is the desired age of the child? 

• Am I interesting in adopting a sibling group?

• Should I consider adopting a sibling group in order to get the type and age of child I am interest in? • Should I be willing to have open communication with the child’s birth parents? • Can I parent a child who is physically or sexually abused and/or neglected? • Can I parent a child that faces on-going medical issues, is diagnosed with a developmental disability who is developmentally delayed? • Can I parent a child who is exposed to alcohol and drugs in utero? • Does the ethnicity of the child I adopt?

• How does my extended family feel about Montana adoption?

• If I participate in a Montana adoption with a child of a different race or ethnicity will I be judged by my family and friends? • How will I handle adoption-related questions posed by my child?

Step by Step: The MT Adoption Process

1. The first step to a Montana adoption requires you to contact your local office. Contact the department, a worker will answer any of your questions, send you information and provide information—through the delivery of adoption brochures—for their particular office. If you are looking to finalize a Montana adoption, you should sign-up for pre-service training courses through your local office. Montana law on adoption states that you are required to have 30 hours of training to learn about foster issues and adoption. When training is complete, you can be assigned a social worker. 

2. Adoptive Home Study: All prospective adopting parents must undertake an adoptive home study. The adoptive home study’s primary purpose is to evaluate whether parents are eligible to proceed with a Montana adoption. The process of a Montana adoption involved preparation and educations as well as procuring information concerning the prospective parents. An Adoptive home study will include the following steps: 

a. Application is provided by the agency

b. Preparation classes: To secure a Montana adoption, you are required to take 30 hours of pre-service training. Class schedule information may be found on the Foster Parent Training site. 

c. Criminal History Background Check: this portion of the home study is organized through your social worker. A criminal history background check must be completed on every individual over the age of 16 residing in the prospective home. A national fingerprint test must also be completed for all adults in the home over the age of 18 and above, has lived in another state over the last 5 years, a background check will be inspected from other states. 

These tests will be organized through your social worker 

Child Neglect and Abuse Inquiries: This is a portion of the background check. Montana state records are checked for every individual in the home for anyone 16 years of age and older. All individuals in the home above the age of 18 who have lived in another state during the last five years will be checked.

Personal Information: The DSHS will implement a form to provide your social worker with information about you. The application will question the following subjects:

Family facts, Education, Employment History, Cultural background, Relationships, Parenting and Experience with Children, Medical and psychosocial questions, Religious affiliation and practices, Support Systems and home and neighborhood questions 

Medical Statements: This is a confidential form that your medical professional will fill-out regarding historic and current medical ailments. Your social worker will provide you with the necessary forms. 

Income Statements: The social worker—for a Montana adoption—will provide you with a worksheet that will seek information on the following topics: bank accounts, credit cards, tax returns, income etc. 

MT Adoption: The Home Study

A home study for Montana adoptions must be approved to continue with the process. In general, home studies for Montana adoptions will be approved within 90 days 

3. Child Selection for Montana Adoptions: There are various ways to select a child for Montana adoptions: a. Social workers will contact you concerning a specific child for Montana adoptions b. Or you can contact the social worker about children you either found on a site or heard about You and your social worker must be in contact to secure background information about the child up for Montana adoptions. At this point, you may begin working with 2 different social workers: your social worker and the child’s social worker for MT adoptions. 

4. Visitation and Placement Process: To go ahead with Montana adoptions you must ensure that there has been a disclosure of the child’s medical, family and social background. For MT adoptions to be finalized, it may take two weeks to several months to place the child in your home depending on the youth’s needs (age, therapy and medical issues, school, child’s well-being, location of the adoptive family etc.). Visitation for Montana adoptions will typically begin at a location deemed safe for the child. Visits will lengthen in time; they get progressively longer until the youth moves to your home.

5. Post Placement: During this portion of the Montana adoption process, your social worker will continue working with you until the adoption is affirmed. Montana adoptions, in this stage, entail the arrangement of needed services (medical, schooling, counseling, child and family etc.). MT adoptions will also require the social worker to come to your home to check on the well-being of the child at least once every 90 days until the adoption is affirmed.

6. Steps for Legal Procedures and Finalizing Montana Adoptions:

a. Contact a MT Adoption attorney

b. Finalize the MT adoption support application delivered to you by your social worker. When completed, the adoption support program specialist is assigned to you. The program specialist reviews your application to determine if the youth qualifies for the program according to Montana and federal laws. The negotiated contract outlining the benefits and terms will be presented for signature. 

c. The social worker must complete a post-placement report. The report provides the court with an update of the family’s and child’s well-being since placement d. DSHS provides a Consent to Adopt for Montana adoptions. This is a written statement to authorize that the child may be adopted e. The social worker—to finalize Montana adoptions—will send your attorney a packet containing crucial documents for Montana adoptions f. Your attorney will prepare the document to present to the court. Your attorney will also file the petition and secure a court date to finalize MT adoptions

Illinois Adoption

Illinois Adoption

 
 
Guide to Illinois Adoption
 
 
If you are interested in adopting a child in the state of Illinois, understanding the state's adoption laws can make it easier to start the process.  It can take months or years to complete your IL adoption, depending on what route you take toward adoption.  This guide will familiarize you with the Illinois adoption process, requirements for adoptive parents, and the costs of different types of adoption.  You'll also learn how adoptees and birth parents can use the IL adoption registry to find each other.
 
 
Applying to Adopt
 
 
The first steps toward an Illinois adoption depend on what kind of adoption you are planning to complete.  Private agencies and private adoptions will typically require you to hire an IL adoption attorney before you can complete an adoption.  Starting an Illinois adoption application with the state's foster care system requires you to go through a lengthy licensing process.
 
 
The licensing process for IL adoption requires you to have a home study completed, which includes a visit and inspection of your home as well as an interview with anyone in your household.  You will also need to be fingerprinted and examined by a physician to complete the Illinois adoption process.  Training is mandatory for all parents considering IL adoption, to help you understand the transitions you and your child will be going through.
 
 
Who Can Adopt?
 
 
In the state of Illinois, adoption is available to most potential parents.  Single, married, and divorced people are all allowed to complete the Illinois adoption process.  Whether you have children or not, you can be eligible for an adoption, and both gay and straight people are allowed to adopt children.  IL adoption requirements do include a financial ability to pay for the expenses of a new child.  You must also have room in your house or apartment for your child, and no criminal history involving children.
 
 
Is Illinois Adoption Expensive?
 
 
The cost of an IL adoption depends in large part on whether you are adopting from the state foster system or from a private agency.  Agency adoptions, whether domestic or international, can cost tens of thousands of dollars.  If you adopt a child through an agency, you may be able to obtain federal tax credits to cover large portions of your adoption expenses.  
 
 
Illinois adoption that is completed through the state foster care system is significantly less expensive.  You may pay as little as a few hundred dollars, or even nothing at all if you are adopting a difficult to adopt child.  There are state subsidies available for IL adoption that can cover your medical and other expenses for a disabled child.  These subsidies can continue until a child's 21st birthday and can make sure that your Illinois adoption costs you little or nothing.
 
 
Illinois Adoption Registry
 
 
Birth parents and adoptees who want to know about each other may wish to use the IL adoption registry.  If both the parent and adoptee sign up for the registry, they will be able to find out information about each other.  However, the Illinois adoption registry will only give information when both parties have consented.
 
 

Alaska Adoption

Alaska Adoption

 
 
Frequently Asked Questions about Alaska Adoption
 
 
What is Alaska adoption?
 
 
Alaska adoption is the process by which an adult takes on the legal and physical responsibilities for a child’s wellbeing that are usually assigned to biological parents. Adoption may occur at any time in a child’s life, though it most commonly occurs for infants and very young children. Older children and teenagers are sometimes considered less desirable by parents, but of course there is a great need for them to be adopted as well.
 
 
Guardianship can be put in contrast with Alaska adoption, since guardianship is also an arrangement by which one person asserts their legal responsibility for another. However, guardianship is usually adults acting for adults who are handicapped in some way that makes them unable to make decisions for themselves. Furthermore, guardianship has less far-reaching effects than adoption, and may be further limited by the courts—for instance, a guardianship that only allows you to make medical decisions on another’s behalf.
 
 
Can I get financial assistance for an Alaska adoption?
 
 
Yes, Alaska adoption subsidies are forms of financial assistance available to families who want to make a commitment to a child with special needs but who might otherwise be financially unable to do so. The definition of special needs for this purpose is especially loose. It can include any physical or mental disability, emotional trauma, membership in a sibling group, a doctor-certified risk of physical or mental disability, or even racial or ethnic factors. 
 
 
The amount of a subsidy will never be more than the existing amount that is paid to foster parents. Their exact amount will be decided after a home study conducted by an OCS Permanency Planning Conference team, and the family must apply and be approved for the subsidy before the adoption takes place. Once a subsidy agreement is signed by both parties, it becomes a binding document and cannot be changed unless one party violates its terms.
 
 
In addition, a one-time reimbursement of up to $2,000 is available through this program for parents who need to compensate legal counsel who helped to facilitate the Alaska adoption.
 
 
When is a guardianship preferable to adoption?
 
 
A guardianship, since it is a less serious legal action than Alaska adoption, may be the preferable tact depending on what relationship you hope to have with the child and what relationship they maintain with their parents. 
 
 
First of all, a birth parent may retain what are called “residual rights” with a guardianship that will allow them to continue to visit the child and possibly to choose its religion or claim its body in the event of a tragedy. In Alaska adoption, the adoptive parent has total control over what the child’s relationship with their birth parent will be.
 
 
In the event of the death of the adult, there will be no rights of inheritance automatically given out to a ward as there would be to an adopted child. Furthermore, wards usually do not take their guardians name, as adopted children do.
 
 

Mississippi Adoption

Mississippi Adoption

 

Quick Guide to Mississippi Adoptions

Mississippi Adoption Laws

The majority of Mississippi law on adoption is located under Chapter 17 of Title 93 of the state’s annotated code.  Conclusive and thorough information concerning the majority of laws and procedure about Mississippi adoptions within this article is referenced from the official website of the MS Department of Human Services.

Who can Qualify for Mississippi Adoptions?

According to the state’s DHS, a large percentage of citizens within the state can qualify as adopting parents.  A person has to meet the following qualifications to legally adopt in MS: 

• single persons or married couples who have been married for at least two years

• applicants over the age of 21 years

• families and individuals who can provide income and insurance to meet the needs of the child

• individuals or couples who are emotionally, intellectually, and psychologically fit to raise children

It is important to note that Mississippi adoption is prohibited for same gender couples.  The state of Mississippi is one of only two states in the United States that prohibits adoptions between couples of the same gender.  

Steps for Mississippi Adoptions

A Mississippi adoption can become extremely complex if paternity rights become involved in the case of the birthmother alternates between her ultimate decisions.  Parents or an individual are always encouraged to hire an attorney at the beginning of an adoptions within the state of MS.  

Step 1 Contact the Department of Human Services

In order to contact the DHS about adoptions specifically, you can call the adoption hotline at (800) 821-9157 in order to obtain more information about the specific type of adoption and about the application.  

Step 2 Look Over and Complete the Application

Once you fill out and submit the application, the DHS will review your eligibility requirements for the Mississippi adoption and you may be placed on a waiting list.  

Step 3 Complete Training Sessions

Once the application is approved for Mississippi adoptions, a couple or individual will have to attend up to five weekly training session to enhance their knowledge of the adoption process, child development, and how to responsibly handle certain kinds of behavior.  These meetings are extremely important and provide the adopting party will valuable information.  

Step 4 Undergo the Home Study

The family or individual within the Mississippi adoption process will then have to go through several interviews with a social worker.  The social workers will help the DHS determine if the adopting party is truly ready for adoption.  

Step 5 Placement

The first visits within Mississippi adoptions will only last a short while, but the visits will eventually extend to overnight and then arrangement for permanent placements will be made.  

Step 6 Post Placement

After the child is placed in the home, a social worker will visit a couple more time to help the parent(s) and child adjust to the adoption.  These visits usually last 6 months until the adoption is finalized and accepted within a court.  

South Dakota Adoption

South Dakota Adoption

 
 
Frequently Asked Questions about South Dakota Adoption
 
 
What is South Dakota adoption?
 
 
The South Dakota adoption court may order a child to placed in the legal custody of an adult who is not their parent in the event of some domestic emergency which has made it impossible for their previous guardians to look after them. Most children are adopted from the custody of the Division of Child Protection services, which looks after children who cannot be raised by their birth parents.
 
 
The whole purpose of South Dakota adoption is to make sure children are given loving homes on a permanent basis. Of course, there are a whole multitude of reasons that will make it difficult for a child to be adopted, from their age as an older child or teen, to a mental or physical disability, to being part of a sibling group that should not be divided. If you believe that you have something you can contribute to these children’s lives, you should hire a lawyer to make sure that your South Dakota adoption becomes a success.
 
 
Can I get financial assistance for an adoption?
 
 
Yes, if the child that you believe qualifies for South Dakota adoption has special needs, then you might be eligible for financial assistance which can help you to pay for their care. For instance, some children will qualify for medical assistance from the South Dakota adoption services. The child will need to be under eighteen and must be eligible for Medial Assistance through Medicaid. 
 
 
The second method is the South Dakota Adoption Subsidy Program, which is intended to make these children seem more competitive candidates for adoption. You might qualify for an adoption  subsidy if the child you plan to adopt belongs to a race, age or religious group which makes them less s likely to be adopted, if they have a physical or mental handicap, if they are part of a sibling group that must be placed together, or if they need physical or mental rehabilitation.
 
 
How much does a South Dakota adoption cost?
 
 
There is no telling how much it will cost you to get your South Dakota adoption made official. First recognize that you have the option of self-filing, or filing pro se in Latin. This way you won’t have to pay legal fees, but keep in mind that most legal experts advise you to hire a South Dakota adoption lawyer to help you with your plans.
 
 
The first benefit of a South Dakota adoption lawyer is that they know all the proper avenues for getting carefully crafted adoption orders. If you want to see your forms perfectly filled out, simply hire a South Dakota adoption lawyer. Plus, they can help to catch all of the mistakes you might make which will allow you to avoid a large fine or other punishment.
 
 
A South Dakota adoption lawyer will charge around $3,000 to help you to litigate an adoption.
 
 

Nebraska Adoption

Nebraska Adoption

Quick Guide to Nebraska Adoptions

Nebraska Adoptions

There are generally three ways a Nebraska adoption usually occurs: privately, through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or through a national program.  Each type of Nebraska adoption is discussed within this article.  

If you are thinking about a NE adoption, you are usually advised to hire a Nebraska adoption attorney (especially if you are seeking a private adoption).  The Nebraska adoption process is highly complex, and although some adoptions remain simple, it’s still a good idea to hire an attorney.  

Laws for New Nebraska Adoptions

Most laws for NE adoption are located in Chapter 43 of the state’s revised statutes.  Additionally, the DHHS provides valuable information about requirements for NE adoption. 

Each adopting parent and anyone in the house 18 years or older must go through a number of background checks before they can qualify for a NE adoption.  The background checks for Nebraska adoptions include a federal background check, Central Register child abuse and vulnerable adult abuse, Register of State and National Criminal History, and Sex Offender Register.  

Additionally, the adopting parents must usually complete an application and self-study for Nebraska adoptions.  The study asks many of the same questions that will be asked during a home study, and home studies are required for any type of Nebraska adoption.

Children are usually placed by the court, the DHHS, or a private NE adoption agency, but in some cases, a private adoption may occur.  Different kinds of Nebraska adoptions are discussed in the following section. 

Different Types of Nebraska Adoptions

As mentioned above, a Nebraska adoption can occur privately, through the DHHS or private agency, or through a federal or international program.  Each type of New NE adoption is discussed below: 

Private Adoption

Private Nebraska adoptions between birthmothers and the adopting parents require the assistance of a family Nebraska lawyers, and this type of adoption is still common within the state.  A private Nebraska adoption can become complicated if a birthmother hands over her parental rights but then decides to keep the child.

In any case, a private NE adoption will still need the approval of the court after investigation from a social service professional.  If couples are thinking of a private adoption, they need to consult with a Nebraska adoption attorney before anything.  

Adoptions through the DHHS

If you want to petition for a NE adoption through the DHHS, you will normally help children who can no longer report back to their homes because of neglect, abuse, or other serious problems.  Some of the services offered by the DHHS are for foster children, but a NE adoption is an option in many cases.  

Federal Program

One of the most successful federal programs for foster children is the AdoptUSKids found at the following link: 

In order to adopt through this program, you’ll have to fill out an application and complete pre-service training.  You’ll find more information on these requirements in the link above.   

West Virginia Adoption

West Virginia Adoption

Helpful Information on WV Adoption

West Virginia Adoptions

There are generally three ways a West Virginia adoption usually occurs: privately, through the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, or through a national program.  Each type of West Virginia adoption is discussed within this article.  

If you are thinking about a West Virginia adoption, you are advised and sometimes required to hire an WV adoption attorney (especially if you are seeking a private adoption).  West Virginia adoptions are sometimes stressful and complex, and although some adoptions remain simple, it’s still a good idea to hire an attorney.  

Laws for West Virginia Adoptions

Most laws for a WV adoption are located in §48-22 through §48-23 of the state’s revised code.  §48-22-301 provides the general eligibility factors for a WV adoption.  The code states “Any person not married or any person, with his or her spouse’s consent, or any husband and wife jointly, may petition at a circuit court of the county” for a West Virginia adoption.

So, according to §48-22-301, no preference is given to race, religion, income (in some cases), sexual orientation, gender, or relationship status in West Virginia adoptions.  The state is always anxious to have qualified individuals apply for West Virginia adoptions, and several different types of WV adoption are explained below.

Different Types of WV Adoption

Children are usually placed by the court or an agency in a WV adoption, but in some cases, a private adoption may occur.  If West Virginia adoptions go through the state, a private agency of the DHHS will assist with future parent(s) choosing a child, and all three types of WV adoption are further explained below:

Private Adoption

Private West Virginia adoptions between birthmothers and the adopting parents require the assistance of family West Virginia lawyers, and this type of adoption is still common within the state.  A private West Virginia adoption can become complicated if a birthmother hands over her parental rights but then decides to keep the child.

In any case, a private WV adoption will still need the approval of the court after investigation from a social service professional.  If couples are thinking of a private adoption, they need to consult with an adoption attorney before anything.  

Adoptions through the DHHS

If you want to petition for a West Virginia adoption through the DHHS, you’ll usually adopt a child who needs counseling and other services because of experiences they had in a former home or environment.  Some of the services offered by the DHHS are for foster children, but a West Virginia adoption is an option in many cases. 

Federal Program

One of the most successful federal programs for foster children is the AdoptUSKids found at the following link. 

In order to adopt through this program, you’ll have to fill out an application and complete pre-service training.  You’ll find more information on these requirements in the link above.   

Regardless of the type of WV adoption, a future parent will have to complete pre-service training, undergo multiple home studies, and show evidence of being able to provide a safe and structured home for a future child.  If you have any questions about West Virginia adoptions, you can find more information on this website, click on any of the links provided above, or ask a West Virginia adoption attorney.  

 

New Mexico Adoption

New Mexico Adoption

Quick Guide to New Mexico Adoptions 

New Mexico Adoptions

There are generally three ways a New Mexico adoption usually occurs: privately, through the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD), or through a national program.  Each type of New Mexico adoption is discussed within this article.  

If you are thinking about New Mexico adoptions, you are usually advised to hire an NM adoption attorney (especially if you are seeking a private adoption).  The NM adoption process is highly complex, and although some adoptions remain simple, it’s still a good idea to hire an attorney.  

Laws for New Mexico Adoption

New Mexico law adoption is located in Chapter 32A of the state’s revised statutes.  Additionally, the state bar provides valuable information about qualifications for a New Mexico adoption. 

An adopting parent or parents must usually be 25 years old and at least 10 years older than the child in New Mexico adoptions.  Additionally, the state bar provides the following requirements of the biological parents for any New Mexico adoption: 

• the parents must consent to the NM adoption after counseling, and with the judge’s or with the approval of the head of an agency

• the parents must relinquish their rights to the CYFD voluntarily or because of abuse or neglect in the former household

• the court must give consent if a parent has left a child

Children are usually placed by the court or an agency in a New Mexico adoption, but in some cases, a private NM adoption may occur.  Different kinds of New Mexico adoptions are discussed in the following section. 

Different Types of New Mexico Adoptions

As mentioned above, a New Mexico adoption can occur privately, through the CYFD, or through a federal program for foster children.  Each type of New Mexico adoption is discussed below: 

Private NM Adoption

Private New Mexico adoptions between birthmothers and the adopting parents require the assistance of a family law attorney, and this type of adoption is still common within the state.  A private NM adoption can become complicated if a birthmother hands over her parental rights but then decides to keep the child.

In any case, a private New Mexico adoption will still need the approval of the court after investigation from a social service professional.  If couples are thinking of a private adoption, they need to consult with an adoption attorney before anything.  

New Mexico Adoptions through the CYFD

If you want to petition for a New Mexico adoption through the CYFD, you’ll usually adopt a child who needs counseling and other services because of experiences they had in an abusive or neglectful home.  Some of the services offered by the CYFD are for foster children, but a NM adoption is an option in many cases.  For more information

Federal Program

One of the most successful federal programs for foster children is the AdoptUSKids found at the following link: 

In order to adopt through this program, you’ll have to fill out an application and complete pre-service training.  You’ll find more information on these requirements in the link above.   

Iowa Adoption

Iowa Adoption

 
 
Quick Steps to Iowa Adoptions 
 
 
Iowa Adoptions
 
 
There are three ways Iowa adoptions usually occur: privately, through a state agency, or through a national program.  Each type of Iowa adoption is discussed within this article.  
 
 
If you are thinking about an Iowa adoption, you are usually advised to hire an adoption attorney (even if you are going through an agency in some cases).  The IA adoption process is highly complex, and although some Iowa adoptions remain simple, it’s still a good idea to hire an attorney.  
 
 
Am I eligible to petition for IA Adoption? 
 
 
Iowa is very lenient on their adoption standards compared to some states, and as long as a prospective parent has a clean criminal record, clean bill of health, and a strong financial history, the state will usually allow the IA adoption to occur.  Chapter 600 of the Iowa Code discusses adoptions in the state, and Section 600.4 specifically discusses qualifications for an Iowa adoption.
 
 
All of the persons listed below may apply for Iowa adoptions: 
 
 
• an unmarried adult
 
 
• husband and wife together
 
 
• either the husband or wife if the spouse is not adopting the other spouse
 
 
• the adopting parent is the stepparent of the person being adopted
 
 
• the spouse has been separated because of abandonment described section 597.10 of Iowa Code
 
 
• either spouse cannot contact their spouse because of  extended unavailability, or incapacity of the other spouse
 
 
Different Types of Iowa Adoptions
 
 
As mentioned above, an Iowa adoption can occur privately, through a state agency, or through a federal program for foster children.  Each type of Iowa adoption is explained below with helpful links: 
 
 
Private Adoption
 
 
A private IA adoption between a birthmother and the adopting parent is not specifically addressed within the state code, but this type of adoption is still common within the state.  A private IA adoption can become complicated if a birthmother hands over her parental rights but then decides to keep the child within 96 hours.  
 
 
Parental release of the child to the adopting parents cannot occur until 72 hours after the birth, so the birth mother may have a limited window to make a decision.  For more information on a private Iowa adoption.
 
 
State Agencies
 
 
If you want to petition for Iowa adoptions through a state agency, you’ll have to find your local Department of Human Services (DHS).  The DHS provides a map to help you find your local office.  Visit the link provided for the map: 
 
 
Federal Program
 
 
One of the most successful federal programs for foster children is the AdoptUSKids found. 
 
 
In order to petition for an IA adoption through this program you’ll need pre-service training.  You’ll find more information on these requirements in the link above.   
 
 
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