Offer Your Information
If you're a couple who wants to adopt a child, your life must be an open book. If you are going to get clearance to become legal parents of a child, the state wants to know that you are fit and qualified to become a parent. That means a full-scale background check. This is a requirement of all 50 states. You will have to demonstrate that you are a solid citizen with a clear legal record, a solid financial citizen and a person of great character. You will need to provide 3 to 5 years of tax returns, provide character references from three people who are not relatives and show that you are of good health by passing a physical.
Training
Most states require that you take a parenting class. While many couples who come to adoption do so after a long battle with infertility and long ago decided they wanted to be parents, a parenting course will provide you with more information about the life you are about to enter. Having more information rarely makes prospective parents change their minds about the adoption process, but it does familiarize them to a small degree with what parenting will be like.
Interview
After a couple has been screened and attended a parenting course, a representative from a reputable adoption agency will interview you in your home. This is usually an easy process for a couple who really wants a child and has been truthful during every step of the investigation. However, if the couple has not been completely honest, a veteran interviewer can pick this information up during the interview process. If the interviewer feels a bit uneasy while talking to the prospective parents, further investigation can be launched.
Cost
While the cost of adoption can range from $10,000 to $100,000, the cost of the home study is relatively inexpensive. The prospective couple pays for the cost of the background check, financial investigation, physical exam and interview. This usually ranges from $300 to $700 depending on the state.
