Adopting a child can be a long process, but the reward is certainly worth the wait. This post provides an overview of the steps involved in adopting a child in South Carolina.
Research Your Options
Before you begin, you should understand what it will take to adopt a child in South Carolina. Setting realistic expectations about the investment of time and money you’ll be making is a good first step.
A South Carolina adoption attorney can explain the adoption process to you during an initial consultation. They can show you the roadmap for adopting a child and get you started on the right path.
Understand Types of Adoptions
You’ll have to choose between a domestic adoption, an international adoption, or a foster care adoption. Each type of adoption has its own costs and benefits.
Different laws apply to each type of adoption. Our staff can direct to the resources you’ll need to look at in order to make an informed decision.
Home Study
The home study process is the next phase of any South Carolina adoption. A home study can involve all of the following:
- A background check that requires extensive documentation about your health, finances, and other information
- An inspection of your home
- An interview with a social worker
Once you’ve completed this phase, you can begin actively looking for opportunities to adopt.
Look for Opportunities to Adopt
You can now begin looking at actual opportunities to adopt a child. The way you look for opportunities will depend on what type of adoption you are seeking.
This may require searching for children currently in foster care who are available for adoption, creating a profile to be viewed by prospective birth mothers, or working with a domestic or international adoption agency.
When you’ve found your child and received placement, you’ll need to complete some additional steps to make sure your adoption is properly finalized. Our family law attorneys can help you with this process and provide assurance that you’re following all the correct procedures.
If you’d like to learn more about adopting a child in South Carolina, contact our family law firm to schedule a consultation.
At King Law Offices, we understand the challenges involved in any family law matter. Our goal is to help guide you through this process and listen to your concerns. Come visit us at one of our multiple office locations throughout North and South Carolina.