The adoption process is expensive, time-consuming and emotionally taxing. There's no way to be prepared or perfectly suited for every situation, but by taking the time to do research on the most likely adoption situations you'll encounter during the process, you'll be ready to take the worst - and best - of adoption in stride.
The first thing you should understand is the kind of adopter you'll be perceived as in the adoption community. For the most part, where you stack up depends on your age, health and marital status. Traditional adopters are those who are married and between the ages of 25 and 35. These adopters will run into relatively few issues while applying for adoption with most agencies and they'll be among the first-chosen by future birth mothers. Nontraditional adopters are more likely to run into obstacles. These adopters are well over 35, single, gay or disabled.
Private agencies have the right to make their own restrictions on adopters, such as religious affiliation. Not everyone will line up with every agency, foster child, attorney or birth mother. The adoption community has adapted to make itself more available for the benefit of waiting and expected children.
One's ability to adopt and raise a child is evaluated and determined by a trained case worker conducting an adopter's home study.
