Adopting A Child As A Single Woman

If you are a single woman and you are looking to adopt a child, take a look at the options that are available to you.

There are different types of adoption that you can consider, whether it is through an agency or you want to find a birth mother. If you are open to either option, keep reading about the benefits and drawbacks of how you can adopt a child as a single woman.

First, let’s cover the process of adopting a child through an agency. The procedure is extensive but it will give more of a guarantee that your objective will be completed within certain time frames. Some of the things you must know about adopting a child as a single woman through an agency are :

How Long Will It Take To Adopt As A Single Woman

The process can take anywhere from a year and a half to two years. With this route, you will have an adoption specialist who is knowledgeable about the paperwork and process. You also know that your child is legal because it goes through several reviews and steps before the adoption has been completed.

This could be appealing if you want to ensure certainty for yourself as well as your child. However, with everything there is a downside; these adoptions are very expensive since you are paying for the agency’s services, along with any attorneys fees that could come into play during the finalization of your adoption.

The second option would be adopting a child through an attorney. To do this route, you must find an attorney who understands the process and is aware of the laws in your state. You will also need an attorney if you choose to work with a private adoption agency because agencies do not handle the legal aspect of the adoption.

This option is more affordable than adopting through an agency, though still expensive (about $20,000), and once again, like when you use a private adoption agency, the cost of adopting a child through an attorney cannot be paid for with state funds, you will need to come up with the money yourself.

The process can vary depending on your state, but generally, it involves filing a petition for adoption along with other documents that will be submitted to the court. The adoptive parent’s attorney files these papers and then notifies his or her client about what is needed next.

If there are no issues, the court will decide to terminate all parental rights for both birth parents. Once this happens, you need to wait until your state issues an official decree of adoption, which states that the child is now legally yours.

This option is also more open than private adoptions because you can choose virtually any single child (no older than 18 years old).

Are there any specific requirements for single women adopting a child?

In most cases, single women can adopt without any special requirements. Some judges may request that the applicant be older than 30 years, but there is no set age or marital status requirement.

Do I need to have a job and financial stability for adoption as a single woman?

The child’s welfare is of utmost importance during the adoption process. There is no guarantee that you will get a child if you do not meet your state’s eligibility requirements. You should cooperate with whatever requirements your court has established and provide proof that you can financially support the new addition to your family and/or home on your own.

What are my chances of being approved for adopting a child as a single woman in general?

Each state has different requirements for approval. For example, in Florida, you MUST be at least 18 years old and you must have never been convicted of any felony involving violence or dishonesty.

You also can not have any convictions related to child abuse or neglect, nor can you have any pending criminal charges. Furthermore, the only people who are allowed to adopt children in Florida are those who intend to raise them as their own family member(s) (which means that stepparents are not allowed to adopt stepchildren).

Is there anything preventing me from adopting a child as a single woman?

There is no “status” that precludes an individual from adoption other than the fact that one must meet all of the legal requirements specific to your State’s guidelines and requirements.

So, as a single woman, you can adopt a child without any major requirements. It’s not much different than any other adoption.