More and more single people, especially women, are choosing to become single parents. One way for a single person to become a parent is through adoption. Adoption.com defines adoption as “a legal process that creates a new, permanent parent-child relationship where one didn’t exist before.” While many adoption agencies still deem married couples as the best candidates for adoption, many do now allow single people adopt.
Domestic Adoption
Domestic adoptions are adoptions that take place within the adoptive parent’s own country (in the case of this post, this is the United States). A domestic adoption typically costs between $15,000 and $25,000, and can be even more. Most are the adoptions of newborns, with the adoptive parent being chosen by the birth mother. Open adoptions, which allow the birth parent(s) to remain in contact with the child, are becoming increasingly more popular. For more information about adoption laws in each state, click here.
International Adoption
International adoptions are adoptions that take place in a country that is not where the adoptive parent resides. Adoption requirements do vary between countries and adoption agencies. Some will allow single parent adoptions, while others won’t. Many will allow adoptions by single women, but not men. Also, single people do have to be at least 25 years of age to adopt a child internationally. International adoptions can cost $10,000 to $25,000 or more. For more information about adopting internationally, click here.
Foster Care Adoptions
I have to mention foster care adoptions here. I think many people forget about this type of adoption, as many adoptive parents are looking for newborns to adopt, which is understandable. However, if you are looking to make a difference in an older child’s life, I recommend looking into adopting a child who is currently in the foster care program. You can get more information about foster care adoptions by clicking here.
For more information about single parent adoptions, I recommend Lee Varon’s website, entitled Adopting On Your Own.