On the road to adoption in North Carolina

June 08, 2013 (Press-News.org) Adoption is a joyful event, which is often achieved only after a long waiting period and considerable work. North Carolina residents may not realize that adoption is an option for a wide range of potential parents.

Parenthood available to many

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the minimum age for becoming an adoptive parent is 18. Single or married people are legally able to adopt. It is not necessary to be a homeowner.

One of the commonly held myths about adoption is that a prospective adoptive parent has to demonstrate near-perfection in parenting ability. This is not true. Agencies that handle adoptions do look for an applicant's ability to provide stability for an adopted child and will conduct a thorough assessment in each individual case.

It need not take a great deal of wealth to adopt a child either. In the case of a special-needs child, many people may be deterred from adoption because they fear it will be very expensive. However, the cost of a special-needs adoption is generally borne by the agency that places the child.

Personal considerations

Anyone looking into adoption will need to do an honest self-assessment to be sure adoption is the right choice. Caring for a child and meeting all a child's needs, from physical to spiritual, takes time and dedication. It is important for an adoptive parent to have supportive extended family, friends or community to help out with the many challenges of parenting.

Legal considerations

It is helpful to understand what procedures must be followed before embarking on an adoption. First, a child must be legally available to be adopted. Sometimes parental rights have been terminated by the court for cause. If not, and the parents are in the picture at all, they generally must give permission for the adoption.

One example of possible legal complexity arises when an unmarried pregnant woman wants to place the child up for adoption. It may not be enough for her alone to relinquish the child. North Carolina law may require the biological father's consent. The mother, prospective adoptive parents she has chosen, or an adoption agency can file a proceeding with the clerk of court to determine if the father's consent is necessary.

Once the biological father has been served with legal notice that the mother plans to place the child up for adoption, he must notify the court within 15 days that he believes his consent for the adoption is required. If he does not respond, the court orders that he is not entitled to notice, and he will not be informed of any adoption action that starts when the child is three months old or younger. If he does respond, a court hearing is held, and he will have to demonstrate that his consent is required. He can do this by developing a relationship with the child, among other ways.

For those who want to adopt a child, it will be necessary to obtain support for dealing with legal issues. To avoid pitfalls, an experienced family law attorney can provide expert advice and guide parents through the whole process. An ultimately happy result will be worth all the necessary effort.

Article provided by Breeden Law
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