What Are My Adoption Options in Illinois?

 Posted on May 05, 2020 in Family Law

If you are thinking about adopting a child, you probably have many questions about what the process entails. The steps involved in an Illinois adoption vary dramatically depending on the type of adoption being pursued. Whether you are interested in adopting a relative such as a stepchild, an infant through an adoption agency, an international child, or you are interested in another adoption avenue, getting quality legal support is essential.

Types of Adoption

Relative adoptions: In some cases, a person or a couple may want to adopt a child who is related to them. Many relative adoptions involve a stepparent who wishes to adopt his or her spouse’s child. A child can only have two parents according to the law, so some relative adoptions may require the child’s biological parent to give up his or her parental rights. If the parent is unwilling to do so, the court may involuntarily terminate the parental rights if the parent is found to be “unfit” due to abuse, abandonment, or other issues.

Agency adoptions: Many adoptions take place through private or public adoption agencies.. Public adoption agencies usually care for children who are wards of the state due to abandonment, abuse, or because they are orphans. Many private adoption agencies are managed by charities and social service organizations. Children in private adoption agencies may have been placed for adoption by their parents because the parents believed that adoption would give their child a better life than they could provide on their own.

Private adoptions: Not all non-relative adoptions involve an agency. In a private adoption, adoptive parents work directly with the biological parent. However, there are still a number of legal procedures and requirements that must be met. It is especially important to work with an experienced lawyer during a private adoption. It is also essential to note that the biological mother of a child in a private adoption may change her mind up until the baby is born and she legally signs her consent for the adoption.

International adoptions: Adopting a child from another country comes with a variety of unique legal and financial complications. You will need to be in compliance with U.S. laws as well as the adoption laws in the country you are adopting from. Parents will also need to get an immigrant visa for their child through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Foster care adoption: Some adoptions take place after a family foster parents a child. There are currently 17,920 children in foster care in Illinois. Over 3,000 of these children are waiting to be adopted.

Contact a St. Charles Adoption Lawyer

Adopting a child is a considerable legal undertaking. If you are considering adopting a child, speak with an experienced adoption lawyer to discuss your options. Call Shaw Sanders, P.C. at 630-584-5550 to schedule a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable Kane County family law attorney.

Source:

https://www.adoptuskids.org/adoption-and-foster-care/how-to-adopt-and-foster/state-information/illinois

https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/lovinghomes/adoption/Pages/default.aspx