If you wish to become an adoptive parent, you should contact either an attorney experienced in adoption law or an adoption agency. The process with an attorney, known as an independent adoption, will include a personal interview, completion of an application, discussions of adoption procedures, police record checks, child-abuse registry checks, and a home study. In all cases where a child is available for adoption, the process begins by filing a Petition for Adoption in the county where the adoptive parents reside. A notice is then provided by the court to the Department of Social Services, and an investigation is completed. A report by the Department of Social Services is then provided to the court, and the court determines whether or not the adoption is in the best interests of the child and if the Petition will be granted. The prospective adoptive parents are also required to have medical examinations performed by a physician before the adoption can be finalized. The attorney or agency will explain the financial requirements needed to complete the adoption. For additional information, consult an adoption attorney or agency.
