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Issues you should understand when considering Alaskan adoption

On Behalf of | Jun 22, 2018 | Adoption |

There are dozens of reasons why a family or even a single person may decide to adopt a child. Sometimes, the child involved has a biological relationship to the person considering adoption. It’s common to adopt nieces, nephews and even grandchildren if your siblings or children cannot handle the pressures of parenting. Other times, someone who can’t have children for one reason or another decides that adoption is a great choice for building a family.

Regardless of why you’re seeking to adopt a child, you should expect a relatively complex legal process. The state carefully vets people considering adoption, and there is a lot of paperwork that you will need to execute to complete the process.

There are many children who need families and homes

Adoption is an option because some children do not have families and homes. Some children, born to young or financially vulnerable parents, end up wards of the state at an early age. Others may have the misfortune of losing their parents and not have relatives to take them in. In certain cases, the state assumes custody when parents are unable to provide stable, safe homes for children.

Adoption is the legal process through which you assume custodial responsibility for a child that is not biologically yours. Adoption allows you to expand your family and also offers hope to children who do not have anyone to care for them. While roughly half of the children who end up in Alaskan foster care return to their parents, the rest of them need permanent homes and care.

Adoption is a complicated process

For children who will remain in foster care, adoption typically becomes the best-case scenario. You and your family can provide a child with a home, love and support as he or she grows into adulthood. Adoption can be incredibly rewarding and meaningful, but it isn’t something that happens easily or quickly.

Many times, adoptive parents must foster the child before adoption. You may have a better chance of placement if you agree to care for sibling groups, teenagers or children with medical or emotional issues. You will need to pass a background check, as well as a home inspection, to ensure that you are a safe and reasonable potential adoptive parent.

Adoption is the most permanent way of adding a child to your family. Fostering may only last for a few weeks, while assuming guardianship can mean that the birth parents of the child can still seek to regain custody. If you are seriously considering adopting a child, you need to familiarize yourself with Alaskan laws about adoption, as well as the common practices for agencies that place children with families. Doing so will improve your chances of success.

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Contact Dorothea G. Aguero, Attorney at Law, P.C.