How
much time does it all take?
How
much does domestic adoption cost?
What
is a homestudy?
Is
the birthfather's consent required?
Can
the birthparent(s) change their minds?
Do
birthparent(s) provide their medical histories?
What
type of relationship will we/I have with the birthparent(s)?
Do
we/I need an attorney?
Do
we/I have to be Catholic?
No. Members of any faith or denomination are welcome to adopt through
Catholic Charities. We require only that prospective parent(s) have
a sense of spirituality and be active participants in some organized religion.
Catholic Charities believes that the healthy development of children
requires attention to their physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional
and spiritual growth.
Back
to top
Is
it possible to adopt a baby domestically?
Yes, it is possible to adopt domestically, but the process now requires
a high level of involvement and commitment on the part of the adoptive
family working collaboratively with the agency.
Back
to top
Are
both infants and older children available for adoption?
Yes, but because older children (3+ years) are usually in the legal custody
of other agencies, our staff work collaboratively with these agencies
to facilitate the placement of older children.
Back
to top
How
much time does it all take?
Although no agency can guarantee placement, on average adoptive parents
can expect to wait two years before a child is placed in their home through
domestic adoption. Following the placement, they can expect to then wait
approximately six months before the legal process of adoption is finalized.
Back
to top
How
much does domestic adoption cost?
Catholic Charities offers a sliding scale fee that is based on a
family’s income and assets. This fee generally ranges from $7,000 to $20,000.
The homestudy is a separate fee of $1,500. These fees allow Catholic Charities to provide intensive case-management outreach and counseling
to birthparents and adoptive families.
Back
to top
What
is a homestudy?
A homestudy is an important first step in the adoption process, and it
is required by law. The homestudy is a report on the adoptive parent(s)/family
and is compiled after a series of interviews both in the offices of Catholic Charities and in the home of the adoptive family. The homestudy
process is generally completed within a few months. Many topics are discussed
during the homestudy, including your family history, education, parenting
skills, and relationships. Your social worker also addresses your thoughts
about adopting a child, as well your questions, concerns and expectations.
Back
to top
Is
the birthfather’s consent required?
It is always desirable to have the consent of both birthparents in the
adoption process, and Catholic Charities works hard to secure the
consent of the birthfather. In those instances where a birthfather is
not involved, a Probate Judge must decide the direction of the adoption.
Back
to top
Can
the birthparent(s) change their minds?
There is a period of several weeks after the birth of the child during
which the birthparent(s) may change their mind(s). It is the social worker’s
responsibility to keep the adoptive couple fully informed of the legal
status of the placement. The homestudy will provide you with complete
information about the legal process of adoption.
Back
to top
Do
birthparent(s) provide their medical histories?
Yes, we require that medical histories be as complete as possible and
we accept as our responsibility that all information be shared with prospective
adoptive parents.
Back
to top
What
type of relationship will we/I have with the birthparent(s)?
The extent of contact between birthparent(s) and adoptive parent(s) varies.
Your social worker will work with both parties to establish a comfortable
level of contact. Most often it includes the exchange of letters and photos
on a predetermined basis.
Back
to top
Do
we/I need an attorney?
Within the State of Connecticut the adoption process does not require
the assistance of an attorney. Catholic Charities is a licensed
child-placing agency and as such is able to properly attend to the details
of all necessary legal documents with the Probate Court regarding the
adoption process.
Back
to top
Step-by-Step Guide to Domestic Adoption
