Adoption - Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I have to be married to adopt?
woman and childNo. Both single persons and couples are eligible to adopt. If married, the agency requires that the relationship be established and stable. If single and living with a partner, either one or both may legally adopt. However, both people must be studied if they intend to co-parent.

I am afraid my age will disqualify me. Is there an age limit?
No. Any adult over the age of 18 may adopt. However, the adopting parent must be at least ten years older than the adoptee.

Must I own my home?
No. The agency requires only that the home is safe, clean and has adequate space to accommodate an adoptive child.

How much money do I need to earn in order to adopt?
There is no financial requirement other than a person must earn enough money to cover the family's basic needs. The agency does look for a pattern of financial stability and employment when doing the home study.

What is required in the home study?

Some of the requirements include:

  • Formal application
  • Medical clearance
  • Criminal background check
  • References
  • Financial statement
  • Employment verification
  • DMV printout
  • Marriage, divorce or death verifications
  • Personal and family interviews

How much does it cost to adopt a child?
The fee is $500 per child ($400 is reimbursed after the adoption is final). This fee is not due until a child is placed in the home and the adoption is ready to be finalized, and can be reduced if it is a hardship. There is a $20 fee paid to the court when the petition for adoption is filed. There is a fee for fingerprints, and there may be medical fees involved if the adoptive parents do not have insurance coverage for medical exams. Shasta County has its own legal counsel so you do not need an attorney. The county social worker writes and files the petition and other necessary paperwork.

How long does the process take?
To adopt a healthy infant, the wait can be more than two years. If adopting an older, special needs child, there is little delay. A child must live with the family for at least six months before the adoption is finalized in court. The social worker will visit several times and offer supportive services.

What about support after the adoption is finalized?
"Forever Families" is a support group for families of adopted children. It is offered by Lilliput Children's Service, which provides monthly support group meetings (including training, mutual support, and information, respite and referral), a newsletter, counseling services and periodic trainings on various topics related to adoption.

What is fost-adopt?

All children deserve permanent homes, so long-term foster care is not the best choice for children who are not able to reunify with their birth parents. The fewer times a child changes foster homes, the healthier the child. Children who are less likely to reunify with their birth parents are placed in foster homes that are interested in adopting the children, should the parents fail to regain custody. This is called "concurrent planning." This creates an adoptive opportunity for people who are willing to do foster care, but are hoping to adopt. This also allows children to be placed in one foster home until they either return to their birth parents’ care or are adopted. Allowing them to settle into an adoptive home at an earlier age is a great benefit to the child. While it takes special people to do foster care and plan for adoption concurrently, many Shasta County foster parents' families have successfully grown through this process. Click here to read about one family's story.

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