What are the Requirements for Private Adoption in Pennsylvania?

Adopting a child is a blessing for the entire family. However, the process of welcoming a new child into the family can be quite complex. It is not uncommon for people to face a number of challenges along the way. Understanding the process can make everything much easier, as can working with a Carbon County family lawyer. Below, our experienced attorney explains the requirements for adoption in Pennsylvania and other considerations.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for Adoption in Pennsylvania? 

The adoption process in Pennsylvania is highly regulated in order to protect children, birth mothers, and adoptive parents. Although the majority of people recognize that these regulations and safeguards are in place for a reason, they can also seem overwhelming.

The adoption laws in Pennsylvania allow anyone to adopt without discrimination based on gender, age, marital status, sexuality, or religion. When working with a private agency, they may have a narrower scope for eligibility. For example, while private agencies will typically work with adoptive parents from any background, they may also choose to use a birth parent’s preferences when trying to match family profiles.

In private infant adoptions, adoptive parents must also complete a home study. This requires a representative from the agency to visit the home to ensure it is a stable and secure environment to raise a child in. The home study also confirms that the adoptive parents are physically, financially, and emotionally prepared to adopt and raise a child. Home studies also involve a criminal background check on both adoptive parents.

Birth parents must also consent to the adoption process and terminate their parental rights. Birth mothers can only provide consent 72 hours after the child has been born. They also have 30 days to revoke their consent. For birth fathers, consent is a bit more complicated. It largely depends on whether the birth father is known, if they have stated that they want to father a child, and if they have provided emotional or financial support to the child.

Other Considerations 

In most cases, adoptive parents pay at least a portion of the counseling services and medical expenses incurred by the birth mother. However, it is against the law for adoptive parents to pay the living expenses or other costs incurred by the birth mother.

When parents wish to adopt a parent that does not live in Pennsylvania, the Interstate Compact Office will oversee the process to ensure that the adoption is considered legal in both states. Most private agencies in Pennsylvania work with this agency to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

Finally, whether you are considering an open or closed adoption, a post-adoption contact agreement should be drafted and signed by all parties. This will stipulate how and when, if at all, the birth parents can contact the child. These agreements can help prevent disputes in the future.

Call Our Family Lawyer in Carbon County Now 

If you are considering adoption, the first thing to do is to contact a Carbon County family lawyer. At The Law Office of Kim M. Gillen, P.C., our experienced attorney can advise on the different types of adoption, help determine which one is right for you, and make the process as easy as possible for your entire family. Call us now at 484-613-0011 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more.

Source:

pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/adopt-pa-kids/adoptive-parent.html