Are you even eligible to adopt a child?

7 Ways to Make Yourself Eligible for Adopting

The choice of adopting a child is a very difficult and life-changing decision to make, but the problems don’t end there. Just because you think and feel you’re ready for adoption doesn’t mean that the adoption agencies and the birth parents of the child you’re planning to adopt will agree. If you want to adopt a child, you have to make sure you’re eligible to do so.

7 Ways to Make Yourself Eligible for Adopting

If you really want to adopt a child, you should be willing to make various adjustments to increase your eligibility as an adopting parent.

Financial Capability – While you certainly don’t have to be rich to become an adopting parent, you do have to prove to an adoption agency, the birth parents, and the courts that you have the financial means of raising a child in a fairly comfortable life. Among other things, that means giving him a roof over his head, food and clothing, and providing for his educational and social needs. Adopting a child means having an extra mouth to feed, an extra person to put to school and raise….your heart might be ready for that, but are your pockets ready as well?

Emotional Capability – Is your heart truly ready to welcome another child in your home? Sometimes, people have difficulties connecting with another child if they’re not directly related by blood. Will you be able to overlook that? If you’re going to adopt a baby, do you have the patience to wake up every night to feed him and change his diapers? Will you be able to love him just as if he was your flesh and blood child? Are you prepared to give him the caring, support, love, and guidance he needs?

Age – Many adoption agencies feel that individuals who aren't between the ages of twenty-five and forty aren't in the appropriate stage of life to raise a child. If you’re younger, you might want to wait for a few more years before you try adopting since it will ultimately benefit your future child anyway. If you are older than 40, you still have the chance to adopt a child but you’ll definitely be subjected to stricter requirements.

Time – One excellent way of manifesting your love for any person is by giving him the time he needs to spend with you. And for cases of adoption, you have to prove to everyone concerned that you are willing and able to give your adopted child the time he will need from you as a parent. If you’re a busy career-oriented individual, you might have to cut back on your work load if you’re really serious with your adoption plans.

Other agencies might actually go as far as asking you or your spouse to take a six month leave from work to ease the adjustment process for your child. Are you willing to do that?

Marriage – Many adoption agencies, whether they admit it or not, are biased towards married couples. They prefer to award adoption rights to married couples rather than individuals who are single or simply cohabiting with another person.

If you and your partner aren't married but you truly desire to adopt, you definitely need to have heart-to-heart talk and try determining whether an adoption will make you ready for the next big step for your relationship. Of course, it’s not good at all if you’re going to marry just so you can adopt. If you need a good reason for adopting, you also need a good reason for marrying.

Gender – Another bias that many adoption agencies are guilty of is their preference for straight individuals or couples. Two states – Florida and Utah – have specific restrictions against allowing lesbian or gay couples from adopting a child. If you are homosexual, you still have a chance of adopting a child in other areas but you really have to prove that you’re capable of raising a child properly in spite of your alternative lifestyle.

Race – Obviously, you can’t change your race, but you can choose the race of your adopted child. If you’re intent on adopting a child of a different race, you need to prove to concerned parties that you can raise him properly and without any racial discrimination.

Consider these factors carefully and determine what changes you should perform in order to make yourself more eligible as an adopting parent.