Blog// LGBT Adoption

5 False Facts About Adoption

Adoption is an option that many people turn to when they decide to grow their families, whether that is out of preference or necessity. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the whole adoption process. The truth of the matter is that most of these unpopular opinions always come from uninformed places and have no truth to them. Some of the common myths that are often peddled include:

1. Adoptive children have uncaring birth parents

When it comes to newborn adoption or adopting much older children, most people don’t understand the circumstances that can drive a birth parent to place them for adoption. This is an unfair notion to the birth parents, because most of them arrive at this decision when it is probably the best among their options. The decision is made from a place of love; of wanting their children to have the best life that they may not be in a position to offer at that point.

2. Perfection is required of adoptive parents

Most people imagine that for one to be allowed to adopt a child they need to have the perfect life by certain standards. Of course, adoptive parents need to prove that they are able to take care of and provide for a child. This does not mean that if your income is low or if you are single or disabled that you cannot qualify to adopt a child. As long as you can provide a conducive environment for a child to live and grow up comfortably in you should do just fine.

3. Birth parents will come back to claim their child

This is not true, because adoption is legal and once it is approved by a judge then that is final. Birth parents are usually given a window of opportunity to change their minds about the whole process. Once this period elapses then the child is legally under the care and responsibility of their adoptive parents.

4. Adoption is a long and expensive process

The process of adoption varies with each adoption case. Some may take long especially if there are issues that need to be resolved before the process is finalized. There may be expenses to be covered other than regular legal fees. For instance, adoptive parents in a newborn adoption process may need to pay for health care for the birth mother. However, there are grants and financial assistance available to some prospective adoptive parents.

5. Adoption is only for people who can’t have children

Adoption is not reserved for any specific people -- anyone can adopt a child. Being able to have children of your own or not does not affect your chances of adopting a child. Whether you would like to adopt because of fertility difficulties or just because it’s what you want to do, that makes little difference in the end.

Choosing to adopt a child is a life changing decision for both the child and the adoptive parents. Whether you choose to adopt older children or go the newborn adoption way, knowing that these myths are far from true can help you move forward with the process.

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