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Adoption can be life-changing in so many ways, both for you and for a child in need. If you have been considering adoption, you might have questions about how to adopt a child in the state of Missouri. Each state has its own guidelines and rules that govern the adoption process, so it is a good idea to be familiar with these conditions and requirements before you embark on the adoption process.
Before you start the work to adopt a child, you need to secure a St. Louis adoption attorney. The adoption process is lengthy and complex and having legal counsel will help you to tackle all the steps and stages properly to avoid delays and frustrations.
How to Adopt a Child in Missouri
First, before you can do anything else, you need to meet some key conditions and requirements to adopt in the state of Missouri.
- You must be at least 21 years of age.
- You need to be healthy and have sound mental health.
- You need to be able to prove that you have a stable income.
- You need to complete a child abuse/neglect check and criminal record check.
- You need to be fingerprinted by a recognized agency.
- You will need to live in a home or an apartment that meets a specific set of standards.
- You have to be part of a team that is willing to work with the biological parent or parents of the child.
You will also need to decide what kind of adoption you want to seek. You can seek an open, semi-open, or closed adoption in the state of Missouri. These different adoption types have different steps and stages that your lawyer can advise you about.
The Process to Adopt in the State of Missouri
The adoption process follows some general steps and stages in the state of Missouri. Different adoption types might have added steps that you need to take into account but your legal team can help you to prepare for these added considerations as you navigate the process.
1. Find an Agency
If you are not adopting a family member’s child or a child that you have some familial connection with, you will need to connect with an adoption professional or agency. These groups can help you connect with kids who are looking for homes. You will be able to find out some basic information about each child who needs a home, but the agency guides the choices that are offered to you due to variables that they alone are aware of.
Your lawyer can help you get connected with an agency if you are not sure how to track down this kind of business on your own. There are nationally licensed adoption agencies in Missouri that can help you to find the right child to complete your family.
2. Complete the Required Home Study Process
Most adoptions that are agency-guided will require a home study, which is an inspection of the home and your own qualifications to parent a child by licensed social workers. You will need to submit to this process per the agency’s requirements if you are going to adopt a child that they are working to place in a home. This is not necessary if you have a child in your family that you are adopting.
There is a documentation phase, an in-home visit, and an inspection process before you finish the home study process. Not all agencies require all of these steps, but most of them should follow this kind of protocol.
3. Meet Your Child and File an Adoption Petition
Once you have completed the first two steps, you can meet the child that you are being invited to adopt. If the child seems like a good fit for your family, you will then need to have your lawyer file an adoption petition for you. This adoption petition will tell the court that you are ready to adopt the child in question and need to schedule a court date to start the legal adoption process.
Adoptions from other states or adoptions that are done within a family can have different requirements when it comes to the visitation or meet and greet part of the adoption process. You will need to ask your lawyer about the petition and the meet-up process if you are not sure what to expect.
4. Wait Six Months
Before your adoption can be finalized and legal, you will need to go through the six-month waiting process. You will have lawful and actual custody of the child during this period, and a social worker will provide another home check to make sure that you and the child are a good fit. This step is not required for stepparent adoption, which is considered to have begun from the moment that the stepparent married the biological parent.
5. The Final Adoption Decree
Once all the other hurdles have been cleared, you will be able to apply for the final decree of adoption to be completed. This gives you the right to act as your adoptive child’s parent and to make decisions for their care and their education, as well as their health. You can file for a new birth certificate as well.
Adoption Can Change Your Life in Many Positive Ways
While the adoption process can be long and can seem daunting, it is often so worth it. If you have been unable to have kids, or you just want to make a difference in the life of a child, adoption can be the perfect way to change your life and the life of a child for the better. You will need to secure a skilled legal team to help you with the adoption process due to the vast number of stages and steps that need to be undertaken for each adoption.
If you are ready to make your family bigger, more joyful, and more complete, this guide will help you prepare for the adoption process in the state of Missouri.
