Five Ways Illinois Couples Can Adopt Children

 Posted on May 18, 2015 in Family Law

For many Illinois couples, adoption is the right way to add a child to their family. This decision is often an emotional one and changes not only the adoptive parents' lives, but the life of the adopted child and any of the parents' other children as well.

Adopting a child is a complicated process. There are multiple routes parents can take to adopt a child, each with its own unique challenges and benefits. If you and your spouse are considering adopting a child, talk about these different routes and your thoughts about each one. For some couples, adopting a child from their country of origin is a priority. For others, adopting a child from a relative or family friend and allowing the child to maintain a relationship with his or her birth mother as he or she grows up is the best choice.

In Illinois, adoptions are regulated by the laws included in the Illinois Adoption Act. It is also important to note that although many adoptive parents are married or in committed relationships, this is not a legal requirement. You may adopt a child as a single parent in Illinois.

International Adoptions

In an international adoption, a couple adopts a child from a foreign country. Every country has unique laws about international adoptions and some prospective parents may not qualify to adopt from certain nations. If you are considering an international adoption, research the laws in the country from which you are considering adopting a child.

Interstate Adoptions

When a couple or individual adopts a child who resides in another state, it is considered to be an interstate adoption. All interstate adoptions must comply with the regulations included in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. This type of adoption may be completed privately or through an agency.

Private Adoptions

When a couple chooses a private adoption, they work with the child's birth parents and an attorney to complete the transfer of the child's parentage. Whether the child continues to have a relationship with the birth parents after the adoption, and to which extent this relationship exists, is completely up to the adoptive parents.

Agency Adoptions

With an agency adoption, a child is surrendered to an adoption agency which then places him or her with one of its approved families. Adoption agencies do more than simply place children; they often provide counseling to the child and prospective parents and provide resources for families during and after the transition of adding a new child to their household.

Agency-Assisted Adoptions

This type of adoption is a hybrid of an agency adoption and a private adoption. The child's birth parents identify an intended adoptive parent or family, then the adoption is facilitated by an adoption agency. During and following this process, the agency may provide all parties with resources regarding the adoption.

Family Attorneys in DuPage County

If you have decided to adopt a child, it is important to understand the legal process of adoption as well as your rights, your child's rights, and your child's birth parents' rights during and following the adoption. Contact Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices for your free legal consultation with our firm to discuss these rights and how you can navigate the adoption process. Our team of skilled DuPage County family attorneys proudly supports Illinois families and will treat your case with the sensitivity and care it deserves.