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Adoption

Oklahoma Adoption

Oklahoma Adoption

Guide to Oklahoma Adoption

More families than ever are choosing to open their homes to an OK adoption.  If you are considering an adoption through the state of Oklahoma's foster care system, you may want to know more about the process you can expect.  This guide will explain how the Oklahoma adoption process works, from your initial inquiry until your new child moves into your home.  If you want more information on a specific aspect of the adoption process, you may want to contact the Oklahoma Department of Human Services or a qualified OK adoption attorney.

The Oklahoma Adoption Process: First Steps

In order to adopt a child from Oklahoma, you will need to start by making an initial inquiry to the Department of Human Services.  Once you have made an initial inquiry, you will be referred to a pre-service training class near you.  These classes typically happen once a week until you have completed the 27 hours of pre-service training required by Oklahoma law for adoption.  Classes will cover topics ranging from the adoption process itself to what you can expect from your relationship with your new adopted child.

The Oklahoma Adoption Process: Home Study

In order to determine whether your home would be suitable for a placement, an OK adoption case worker will perform a home study.  This involves not only a visit to and inspection of your house, but also interviews with all household members.  You will be asked about your reasons for wanting an Oklahoma adoption, as well as questions about your parenting philosophy.  You may be asked hypothetical questions about what you would do in situations commonly encountered by adoptive parents.

As part of your home study, you will be required to complete fingerprinting and a background check.  OK adoption law also requires all household members to have a medical examination, which can determine whether they may have health problems that would make caring for a child difficult or impossible.  There are no age requirements for completing an Oklahoma adoption, as long as a medical examination reveals that you are reasonably healthy and have no urgent or untreated medical conditions.

The Oklahoma Adoption Process: Matching and Placement

Once the home study is completed, provided it goes well and your background check does not exclude you from adopting, you will be qualified as an adoptive family.  You will be able to tell your OK adoption case worker what kind of child you are looking for.  Being matched takes more time for families who want an infant adoption or want to limit their adoption choices to children of one race or those with no siblings.

Once you are matched with a child, you will be able to visit with that child several times in order to see if the match is good.  If it appears that the placement would be successful, your Oklahoma adoption caseworker will recommend placement and finalization.  Your adoption will not be complete until it is finalized in a court hearing.

 

Louisiana Adoption

Louisiana Adoption

A brief guide to Louisiana adoptions

Whether you are a single person or part of a couple, if you wish to adopt a minor child there are a number of potential complications you should be aware of. There are four different types of Louisiana adoption which you may consider:

• Private adoptions are arranged between a birth parent and the adopting person or couple. These kinds of Louisiana adoptions will require a contract to be drawn up detailing such issues as how much of the birth parents' expenses must be paid for. For example, the person who will be taking custody may agree to pay for all of their hospital expenses. To ensure that this kind of Louisiana adoption is executed properly, you will probably wish to consult with Louisiana lawyers who can draw up a contract whose language is clear and cannot leave you open to future litigation.

• Public adoptions occur when a single person or couple takes custody of a child that is in the care of child protective services.

• Interagency Louisiana adoptions involve taking custody of a child who has been relinquished by their birth parent to the care of an agency.

• International adoptions involve taking custody of a child from another country. Along with a private Louisiana adoption, this is the most complicated and potentially expensive way to complete this process. You will almost certainly need the assistance of a lawyer to ensure that you are in compliance with the laws of the state, as well as with that of the country from which you are adopting a child.

Regardless of which form of Louisiana adoption you are considering, you cannot initiate this process until you have undergone the "homestudy" procedure. This is a state-administered evaluation of your fitness to be a parent. People who are found to be unfit after this kind of review will not be allowed to execute Louisiana adoptions.

There are many components to this kind of examination. When undertaking this review of your fitness to be eligible for Louisiana adoptions, the state generally will not charge you for any expenses other than making your medical and financial records available. However, you may wish to pay for the expense of a lawyer who can help you understand what to expect. Prior to your request to be allowed to commit a Louisiana adoption, you will be extensively interviewed about your upbringing, expectations as a parent and any other factor which could affect your fitness to take custody of a child.

While these proceedings can be expensive, in some cases you may be eligible for a tax credit. Louisiana adoptions of children deemed to have "special needs" may qualify you for this kind of financial aid. Some types of children who could fall under this category include African-American youth, children with special medical needs and children age eight or older. Since such children often have difficulty finding homes, consider if you are willing to undertake this kind of Louisiana adoption.

 

What you must know about fostering

What you must know about fostering

What is Fostering?
The process of fostering another individual exists within the realm of Family Law; Fostering is defined as the procedure undertaken with regard to the granting of temporary supervision over an individual by an individual or entity who is not legally classified as maintaining guardianship or familial ties to the fostered individual.


Fostering vs. Adopting
In contrast with adoption, Fostering shares in in neither the permanence nor the assumed responsibility attributed within the adoption process. While the process of adopting a child is considered to be an immediate contingency plan with regard to children who have been abandoned or removed from their respective birth parents, Fostering a child is not typically considered to share in the urgency or contingency latent within adoption; governmental bodies responsible for the Fostering of children will typically consider the implementation of the Fostering process only after the prospect of familial reunification has been deemed not to be in the best interest of that individual:
Fostering a Child
Though rarely uniform, relative family members such as cousins and grandparents may be sought out with regard to the supervision of a child prior to the potential fostering of a particular child
In certain cases, funding disbursed by the jurisdictional governing body responsible for the oversight of the Fostering of children will be granted to eligible foster parents
Individuals Fostering a child are considered to assume guardianship no paternity of the fostered individual
Fostering a child occurs on a temporary basis; only subsequent to individual, judicial review of a particular familial setting or circumstance will a decision be rendered with regard to the permanency of a situation in which a child is fostered

Adopting a Child

In contrast to the Fostering of a child, the adoption of a child allows the individual or individuals undertaking the adoption of the child in question to maintain legal guardianship in tandem with legal responsibility with regard to the adoptee
Unlike Fostering as child, the adoption of a child is considered to be a permanent measure; the obligation undertaken by an adoptive parent – or adoptive parents – is considered to exist in the long-term
In lieu of funding disbursed to individuals undertaking the Fostering of individuals, adoptive parents are typically ineligible to receive funding with regard to the costs of adoption, in addition to funding with regard to the cost of living implicit within an adoption
Unless otherwise expressed, adoptive parents maintain established paternity with regard to adoptees; as a result, they are traditionally permitted to permit or prohibit visitation with birth parents – conversely, individuals Fostering other individuals are unable to assume the imposition of such measures regulating any such visitation


The Legality of Fostering an Individual
Despite their latent differences, the screening process with regard to Fostering a child consists of similar guidelines, eligibility, qualifications, and standards as does the screening process required by prospective parents; typically, individuals interested in Fostering children will be required to:
Undergo thorough background checks, including the review of financial and criminal records
Complete informational programs and instructional classes provided by the United States government
Adhere to a schedule in which inspections and interviews conducted by government employees may take place

The Facts on Baby Adoption

The Facts on Baby Adoption

Many parents will seek to adopt a baby, choosing to raise the child from a very young age.  There will be no shortage of baby adoptions available, especially when mothers have opted against abortion and carried the baby to term.  There are some adoption agencies that specialize in baby adoption owing to different rules and laws regarding adopting babies and infants.  The entire process will take up to two years depending on the wishes of the parents, babies available and time it takes for the parents to provide adequate arrangements for a child.  

What are the typical steps in baby adoption?

Like all other adoptions, after the prospective parents have applied for an adoption, a home study will be conducted by a social worker to ensure that the family is qualified by an adoption.  The choice of which family the child will be place with is sometimes at the discretion of the birthmother and the prospective adopting parents may have to meet with the birthmother for evaluation.

What are laws regarding baby adoption?

After an era where many unwed birthmothers were forced to give their children up for adoption, legal safeguards now exist to protect the rights of the birthmother against coercive adoption as well as provide legal protection for mothers that put their child up for adoption.  

The Safe Haven law protects the rights of the mother to give up a newborn child for adoption.  Under this arrangement, the mother will bring the baby, no more than five days old, to a hospital, fire or police station and leave the infant in the care of an individual there.  That individual will arrange for the child to be placed in safe hands.  Safe haven laws will vary by state and you will need to ensure that this law is followed or the birthmother will face criminal charges.  Some states will check with the father of the child, if available, to ascertain if custody can indeed be relinquished.

State laws will also define the consent to adoption, which protects both the rights of the birthmother and the father if paternity is established.  The right to consent can be terminated though if either parent abandons the child or commits a number of offenses that would find them unfit to be parents.  There are also limitations on when the mother can consent to the adoption with some states allowing it some hours after the birth and some even allowing the consent to adopt before the baby is born.  Consent can be revoked if the court finds the mother was forced to give up the child through coercion or that the consent was withdrawn within a legally defined amount of time, generally a few days after consent is given,

What will it cost for a baby adoption?

Tax credits for the adoption of a child may be more than enough to cover the adoption service fees.  You will need to speak with the adoption service to determine your fee arrangements and what you will pay for the services, including services such as home studies.

 

The Process of a Haiti Adoption

The Process of a Haiti Adoption

Due to the recent humanitarian crisis, there are a number of Haitian children that are available for adoption.  It is important to follow Haitian adoption laws properly to avoid problems with both Haitian and American law enforcement and protect your custody claim with the adopted child.  The entire process for Haiti adoption, done properly and according to law, will take up to 24 months but will ensure your Haiti adoption is legal and protects the welfare of the child.

Initial stage
Thankfully, adoption is not as simple as picking a child as one would pick a puppy for adoption.  The first step in the process is to file an application for adoption with the appropriate agency or organizations.  There exist a few reliable adoption services that will work with both governments on your behalf.  This application will be ask you for basic information and may ask about your intentions in adopting a child.

Second Stage
The adoption service will then proceed to do a home study to ensure that your home is a proper place for a child to live.  The adoption agency will typically provide this service and report the results of the home study to Haitian authorities, ensuring that you are a proper parent.  The adoption service will have social workers that will evaluate your home so that the adoption agency feels secure in recommending you as an adoptive parent to the Haitian government.
You will at this phase, need to complete a dossier that represents your application to the Haitian government.  As such, the documents must include a French translation and a reliable adoption service will be able to assist you with this.  A typical dossier will include testimony from the prospective adoptive parents on why they want a Haiti adoption.  This stage will take about four months to complete.

Third Stage
The Haitian Adoption Authority, once they are convinced you are a fit parent will begin the process of identifying a child whose needs match your ability.  This authority, in conjunction with other Haitian government agencies, may take as long as 18 months to certify the adoption.  This part of the adoption process is especially difficult for families as the waiting period is unpredictable and tends to be long.
After the adoption is certified, the adoptive parents will travel to Haiti and bring the child to the United States.  There will be two trips to Haiti.  One trip will be to file the necessary paperwork with the Haitian courts and to visit the child to be adopted.  The second trip will be to bring the child home.


Note
aPlease note that if you were in the process of an adoption prior to the Jan 2010 earthquake, there exist waivers to quickly process these orphans and bring them to the United States.  In the unlikely event that your Haiti adoption has still not processed, you should contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services immediately.

Artificial Insemination

Artificial Insemination

What is Artificial Insemination?
Artificial insemination is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the sole purpose of procreation. Because of this anticipated result, artificial insemination is a medical substitute to sexual intercourse or natural insemination. As an assisted reproductive technology, artificial insemination will use the sperm from the female’s male partner or sperm from a donor in situations where the male is unable to produce sperm or the woman is single or a lesbian.  In addition to human reproduction, artificial insemination is commonly used for livestock breeding, especially for pigs and dairy cattle. 
Artificial Insemination: Preparation
Artificial insemination commences when freshly ejaculated or frozen and thawed sperm is placed in the cervix via an intra-cervical insemination. In human beings, the procedure was originally developed as a means of aiding couples with conception where the male’s problems of producing sperm otherwise inhibited procreation. 
As mentioned above, the sperm sample is either be provided by the male partner or by a sperm donor if the partner is not able to produce effective sperm or if the woman is not actively involved in a relationship. If taken from a donor, the sperm must be frozen and subsequently quarantined for a specific period. The sperm—as well as the male donor–will then be tested to ensure that the individual does not carry any transmissible diseases. All sperm donated in this fashion is produced through masturbation at a licensed sperm bank.
If the sperm is provided by a private donor, either through a sperm agency or directly, it will typically be supplied fresh and not go through the quarantine process. Private donor sperm is primarily produced via masturbation; however, some donors will use a collection condom to obtain the sperm during sexual intercourse with their own partners. 
Regardless of route, the male providing the sperm is typically advised not to ejaculate for 48-72 hours before offering the sample—this constraint is required to increase the individual’s sperm count. Furthermore, the woman’s menstrual cycle must be closely monitored by tracking her body temperature and alterations in vaginal mucus. 
When using an intrauterine insemination, the sperm must be washed, concentrated and warmed. “Washing” the sperm will increase the chances of fertilization and remove attached mucus and non-motile sperm in the semen.  
Artificial Insemination: Procedure
When the ovum is released, semen provided by the donor is artificially inseminated into the female’s vagina or uterus. In the case of vaginal artificial insemination, the semen is placed in the vagina via a needle-less syringe. The more effective artificial insemination procedure will insert the semen direct into the female’s uterus. This form of artificial insemination will only utilize ‘washed’ semen and will use a catheter as the vehicle for insertion. 
If the artificial insemination procedure is successful, the female will conceive. The baby, in this situation, is regarded as the woman’s biological child and the biological offspring of the male whose sperm was used during the artificial insemination process. Pregnancy resulting from artificial insemination is no different from pregnancy achieved following sexual intercourse. 

New York Adoption

New York Adoption

 
 
Guide to New York Adoption
 
 
The New York adoption process is relatively straightforward, but it can still be a difficult and time-consuming process for many families.  If you are considering starting the NY adoption process, you may have questions about your eligibility and the various steps in the process.  This guide can help you understand the basics of New York adoption laws, and will even give you some details on what costs you can expect from an adoption in the state of New York.
 
 
Eligibility
 
 
If you are adopting from an agency or a private individual, these people may set their own adoption requirements.  However, if you are adopting from state foster care, the state of New York sets its own adoption requirements.  The vast majority of family types are eligible for NY adoption.  You can be older or younger, married or unmarried, have a single parent or two parents to adopt, and you can rent or own a home.  Gay and lesbian couples are eligible for New York adoption as well as straight couples.  
 
 
Adoption Process
 
 
The NY adoption process begins when you choose an agency to certify you as a potential adoptive family.  An agency will come in to certify you based on the results of a home study, a mandatory part of the New York adoption process.  The home study for NY adoption will include giving a complete medical history and meeting with agency workers in your home.  You will be interviewed by agency staff about your childhood and your parenting philosophy, as well as about your home environment.  You will also have to provide references at this stage of the New York adoption process.  These references should know you well enough to know whether you would make a good parent.
 
 
Costs
 
 
If you are starting a NY adoption from the state foster care system, there are several different types of adoption subsidies available for potential adoptive parents.  Any New York adoption of a child who is handicapped or otherwise hard-to-adopt will be subsidized significantly by the state.  When a parent adopts one of these children, they will be given NY adoption subsidy payments every month until the child reaches the age of 21 or until the parent is no longer legally responsible for the child, whichever comes first.
 
 
For less difficult to adopt children, adoption subsidies may not be available, but New York adoption may be easier with current federal tax breaks for adoptive parents.  You can get a tax credit that covers most or all of the cost of public or private adoption from a licensed agency.  NY adoption laws do not allow the state itself to work on international adoptions.  If you are interested in learning more about the costs or process for an international adoption, you may want to look into licensed New York adoption agencies that adopt internationally.  Each of these agencies will have its own NY adoption requirements and regulations for adoptive parents.
 
 

Florida Adoption

Florida Adoption

Guide to Florida Adoption

If you are considering adopting a child in Florida, it's important to know about Florida adoption laws.  In many situations, it may be quite inexpensive to adopt in Florida, especially if you adopt from the state's foster care system.  This guide will help you understand how a FL adoption works and who is eligible to adopt from the state's foster care system.

The Adoption Process

Typically, the Florida adoption process takes about 8 months from beginning to end if you are adopting from the foster care system.  Adoption agencies may have their own rules and expected times, so if you are adopting through an agency, it may be best to ask them for their specific process.  Adopting from the state begins when you complete a parenting course.  You will usually have to attend this FL adoption course once a week for ten weeks.

After you complete the Florida adoption course, you will have a home study performed by case workers.  The home study will include not only a look through your house, but also an extensive interview with you and your spouse.  You'll be asked questions about your childhood, your parenting philosophy, and what you expect from the FL adoption process.  You'll also have to give names and contact information for references who can talk about your suitability for parenting.

Florida Adoption Eligibility

Eligibility for FL adoption primarily depends on whether you will be able to provide a stable environment for a child.  You may be able to adopt in the state whether you are married or single.  You will not be ruled out due to living in an apartment, having a particular religion, or already having children.  People of all races, backgrounds, and educational backgrounds are welcome to begin the Florida adoption process.  As of 2010, gay men and lesbians are also allowed to adopt according to Florida law on adoption.

People may worry that their incomes would make them ineligible for Florida adoption.  However, people who have modest incomes are often able to make successful adoptive parents.  The best way to find out if you would be eligible is to begin the process.

FL Adoption Requirements and Costs

If you are adopting from the state, you may not have to pay very much money at all to complete the adoption process.  The home study and parenting course mandated by Florida adoption law will not cost anything for prospective parents.  By the time you finish the adoption process, you will typically only have spent around $500, and this can often be reimbursed by the state.

If you are adopting from an agency, either domestically or internationally, you may be able to get an adoption tax credit that will allow you to pay most or all of your adoption related expenses with a tax refund.  Talking to a FL adoption lawyer can help you to better understand the tax implications of adoption and how you may be able to use tax credits to make adoption easier.

 

Pennsylvania Adoption

Pennsylvania Adoption

Guide o Pennsylvania Adoption

Parents who are considering PA adoption may be curious about the steps in the process and whether they may be eligible to adopt a child.  Pennsylvania adoption from the foster care system is relatively easy and inexpensive.  You may be able to adopt a child in the state of Pennsylvania for only a few hundred dollars in total costs if you decide to adopt a waiting child.  This guide will explain the steps in the PA adoption process so that you can fully understand your options.

Who Can Adopt?

Pennsylvania law on adoption is very liberal regarding who is allowed to adopt a child.  You may complete the PA adoption process whether or not you already have children, and whether you own or rent your home.  Straight couples, gay couples, and single parents may all complete the Pennsylvania adoption process, and parents of all races are encouraged to apply.  You will need to show that you have enough money to afford the costs of a child in order to begin a PA adoption, and that you have not committed any crimes against children.

Applying for Pennsylvania Adoption

The first step toward a PA adoption from the foster care system is applying through a state-approved agency.  All agencies are different, and you may want to talk to several agencies to get one that is the right fit for your Pennsylvania adoption.  When you initially apply for a PA adoption, you will be required to fill out application paperwork giving details about you, your family, your home, and your lifestyle.

Home Study/Family Profile

As the Pennsylvania adoption process continues, a family profile (also known as a home study) will be built by the person working on your adoption case.  This PA adoption worker will visit your home and interview you and the other members of your household.

You will have to answer questions about why you are interested in a Pennsylvania adoption, how your own childhood was, how you plan to discipline your adopted child, and whether you are ready for some of the common issues associated with adoption.  Once your family profile has been built by an agency, your home will be approved for a PA adoption and you can begin the matching process.

Matching

The matching process for a Pennsylvania adoption may take a very short or a very long time.  You will be matched with a child available for adoption in Pennsylvania based on your answers to questions asked by the adoption worker and your family's ability to care for a child.  When a potential match is found, you and your family will be able to meet the child and spend time with him or her in order to learn whether the match is good.

Placement

After several pre-placement visits between you and the child, your PA adoption will be one step closer to complete when your child moves into your home.  Post-placement services will monitor the Pennsylvania adoption placement for six months before allowing the adoption to become final.  The last step of the Pennsylvania process will involve you going to court to finalize the adoption in front of a family court judge.

Texas Adoption

Texas Adoption

A Quick Guide to Texas Adoption

Texas Adoption Laws

All Texas adoptions regard procedures and laws under Chapter 162 of the Texas Family Code.  This Chapter addresses adoption, and several laws are discussed throughout this article.  You can also find information about the adoption process in this article as well.  If you need legal advice and assistance, contact Texas lawyers.

Texas Adoption Requirements and Eligibility Factors

In the state of Texas, adoptions can occur as long as a person is over the age of 18 shows evidence of being able to provide for the child and meet their best interests.  

However, certain people cannot adopt in the state of Texas.  A Texas adoption cannot occur if the potential parent has a criminal record (in most cases), has shown any evidence of abuse or violence in the past, does not meet eligibility requirements according to a home study from a social worker, does not show evidence of being financially stable, or other reasons.  

The Texas Adoption Process

Fortunately, Texas adoptions usually begin with two parents (regardless of sex and race) who are good standing citizens and ready for a child.  The child must meet a number of eligibility factors under Sections 162.001, 162.501, and 162.504.  The eligibility factors of the child are paraphrased below: 

• the rights of the parents have been terminated

• a parent whose rights have not been terminated is the spouse of the petitioner and the proceeding is for stepparent Texas adoption

• the child is at least two years old; the parent-child relationship has been terminated for one parent; the person applying for adoption rights has been managing conservator or has had actual physical possession or control of the child for at least 6 months; or the person is the former stepparent and the non-terminated parent agrees to the adoption

• an adult may adopt another adult with adopted person’s consent 

After a child has been placed for adoption by the natural parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, a license child-placing agency, or the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas adoptions will go through a number of steps.  These steps for Texas adoptions are listed below: 

1. The prospective legal parent will file a petition to the court 

2. a health, social, education, and genetic history report will be formulated the person petitioning,  a child-placing agency, or any other social service

3. the person filing the petition for the Texas adoption will have to pass a criminal history report which deeply investigates any prospective parent’s past criminal history 

4. Once the petition requesting termination has been filed along with the petition requesting adoption, the court will make a decision if the action is in the best interest of the child and then allow the Texas adoption

5. If the withdrawal of or denial of the petition has occurred, the court may remove the child from the adoptive home if the removal is in the child’s best interest

Texas adoptions will require more steps if the parent(s) is requesting a foreign adoption.  Petitioners are always encouraged to contact an adoption attorney before beginning the adoption process.