Adoption process: 10 common questions about adoption
For many, an adoption process is the last chance to fulfill their desire to have children. We provide answers to the ten most common questions most parents ask before adopting as they prepare for the adoption process.
What adoption procedures are there?
There are three types of adoption: incognito adoption, semi-open adoption, and open adoption. The most common variant is the incognito adoption. In this case, the biological parents and the adoptive parents do not get to know each other at all. However, couples now want to encourage more open forms of adoption . The suggestions range from one or more incognito meetings to acquaintance and direct contact between the two parents.
Do you ask yourself whether you can then love the adopted child as your own? In the following article we will tell you whether and how this works:
Which children are put up for adoption?
Adopted children often come from difficult social backgrounds. In many cases, the biological mother was left alone with the pregnancy and the birth of the child and is still very young or cannot care for the child alone for other reasons. If the child has suffered health, physical or psychological damage, the adoptive parents will be thoroughly prepared for this by the placement office.
How does an aptitude test at the youth welfare office work?
The needs of the child come first in the adoption process. The guiding principle is: We are looking for parents for children – not the other way around! As a rule, the social worker from the youth welfare office conducts several personal interviews with the applicant couple. They always take place by prior arrangement and include at least one home visit. The responsible social worker asks the couple questions about their childhood, their family, their relationship with each other, their educational ideas and, of course, their childlessness. The case officer may also ask if the couple would also adopt a foster child and if not, why.
How long does the adoption process take?
The length of an adoption process varies greatly. Some couples who wish to have children have an adopted child after just a year and a half, while for others the process takes five years or more. The duration depends on the number of competitors and whether the applicants match the profile sought. There are no waiting lists, which means that couples who have been waiting for a long time are not given priority.
What is the “adoption care period”?
The nursing period is a kind of probationary period. It begins when the prospective adoptive parents take a child into their household to foster and ends with the adoption decision. The length of the nursing leave is not specified by law, but it is usually one year. During the foster care period, the adoptive parents are responsible for the complete care and upbringing of the child. In this way, they should recognize the burdens children bring with them so that their decision to adopt is well considered. The couple can decide against adoption at any time.
How much does an adoption cost?
When adopting a German child via the responsible public order office, fees of around 75 to 100 euros are incurred. When adopting a foreign child, the costs are much higher. The exact amount depends on the individual case, especially on the country from which the child is adopted and the associated costs such as flights, residence, the local lawyer or the local court. There are also agency fees. The costs of a foreign adoption can easily add up to 10,000 to 20,000 euros.
What should be considered when adopting a foreign child?
Even in the case of an international adoption, the couple must undergo the aptitude test of the responsible youth welfare office. However, it must also meet the adoption requirements in the country of origin. The necessary information can be obtained from an association or a recognized agency for international adoptions. It is also important to get to grips with the culture and the people in the country of origin, so that the adoptive parents have the necessary understanding for the origin of the child.
Is there also parental allowance and parental leave after an adoption?
Yes, adoptive parents are also entitled to parental allowance and parental leave. The same legal conditions for parental leave and parental allowance apply as for biological parents.