Adoption Articles

Adopting internationally -- The modern era of international adoption began after the Korean War, when Korean and Amerasian orphans were placed with families living in the United States. Since then, Americans have adopted many thousands of children from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. In 2002 alone, U.S. families adopted over 20,000 children...read more

Adopting smart: How it works and how much it costs -- If you're just starting out, be prepared: Adoption today is not what it was just a decade ago. Do you prefer a closed adoption, in which the birth parents remain anonymous? Or are you comfortable with the increasingly common open adoption process, in which you actually meet—and sometimes stay in touch with—the birth parents, usually...read more

An overview of adoption costs -- Most public agencies place only children with special needs, which is defined differently in each state. Up-front fees and expenses range form zero to $2,500, including travel and attorney's fees. Most states, under a federal match program, will reimburse non-recurring adoption expenses up to a set limit (which cannot exceed $2,000). Federal and state adoption...read more

Adoption expenses: Where to go for help -- Beginning with tax year 2002, the federal adoption expense tax credit increased to a maximum of $10,000 per adoption. The credit begins to phase out at $150,000 of modified adjusted gross income. Families adopting U.S. children with special needs may take the $10,000 credit...read more

Are you ready to adopt? -- You're thinking of adopting a child. You're learning as much as you can about the process and the issues. But, you keep coming back to the same question: How will I know when I am ready to take this life-changing step? To answer this question you need to think about why you want to adopt. Your motives can reveal a lot about your readiness. To help you assess them, I have assembled...read more

Domestic adoption resources -- The NAIC was established by Congress in 1987 to provide free information about all aspects of adoption for those considering adopting, birth parents, adoption professionals, and adopted people. The site's introduction to adoption offers an overview of how to begin the adoption process...read more

Domestic or international: Choosing an adoption path -- So many questions face families starting out on their adoption journey, and one of the central ones is, Where will you adopt? In the U.S. or abroad? In China or Russia, South Korea or Guatemala? Each family must decide what's best for them and for the children they will adopt based on their own experience, their connections with particular cultures or parts of the world, and their understanding of conditions in the places in which they're thinking about pursuing adoption, among other considerations...read more

Gestational carriers (surrogacy) -- Whether you set it up through an agency or as an independent adoption, or negotiate it privately, using a gestational carrier is an emotionally intense and legally complex arrangement that involves having another woman carry and deliver your baby for you. It's officially recognized in only a handful of states and is still illegal in others. The process can require vast amounts of time, money, and patience to succeed...read more

How to choose an adoption agency -- Most people wouldn't dream of buying a new car without thorough research and comparison shopping. Choosing an adoption agency is similar. You need to exercise your research and networking skills to ensure that the agency you choose will respond to your needs equitably as you embark on the adoption process...read more

Independent adoption -- In a private or independent adoption (the terms are interchangeable), prospective adoptive parents take an active role in identifying a birthmother, usually by networking, advertising or using the internet...read more