Indiana Adoption FAQs

Growing your family through adoption can be an amazingly rewarding experience. When you’ve decided that you’re ready to pursue an adoption in Indiana, getting answers about your options will be important to:

• Choosing the right type of adoption for you and your family
• Taking the right steps as you move forward
• Minimizing any delays or unnecessary costs
• Successfully navigating the adoption process.

Answers about Indiana Adoptions

The following presents helpful answers to common questions about Indiana adoptions. While this provides some enlightening information about the adoption process, requirements and more, don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Wayne adoption lawyer at Finderson Law, LLC when you need answers specific to your circumstances.

We provide free, no obligations consultations, and we are ready to explain your legal rights and options so you can make the best decision for you and your family as you move forward with an adoption. Simply (260) 420-8600 or email our firm to set up this meeting.

Q: What are the different types of adoption?

A: Adoptions can be either domestic or international. For domestic adoptions, the different types include:

• Intrastate adoptions, in which the birth mother and you live in the same state
• Interstate adoptions, involving the adoption a child who lives in a different state from you
• Step-parent adoptions, in which a step parent adopts his or her spouse’s child
• Blood-relative adoptions, involving some relative of a child adopting the child
• Private or independent adoptions, in which the adoptive parents work with a lawyer, instead of an agency, throughout the adoption process
• Agency adoptions, involving an adoptive parent working with an agency, instead of an attorney, throughout the adoption process
• Open adoptions, in which identifying information about the birth mother and the adoptive family is shared between these parties
• Closed adoptions, involving no sharing of identifying information between the biological mother and the adoptive family.

Your needs and goals will determine the best type of adoption for you. A lawyer can help you figure out your best option, based on your objectives and situation.

Q: What are the requirements for adoptions? Who’s eligible to adopt a child?

A: According to Indiana law¹, the following are the requirements to become an adoptive parent:

• Having the financial means necessary to care for a child
• Having enough room in the home for a new child
• Passing a thorough background check, including an FBI fingerprint check, a sex offender check, a criminal record check, etc.
• Undergoing a home visit
• Fulfilling all necessary training requirements.

Indiana adoption laws do not have requirements regarding:

• The marital status of an adoptive parent – In other words, married, single, and divorced adults can all be eligible to adopt a child in Indiana (as long as the above requirements are fulfilled). If you are married, you and your spouse both have to join the petition to adopt. Individuals can adopt on their own, and unmarried couples can also adopt a child together.
• Whether an adoptive parent already has children – An adult can be eligible to adopt a child, regardless of whether the adoptive parent has other biological and/or adopted children.

Q: How long does the adoption process take?

A: It depends on the type of adoption pursued. International adoptions can take a year or longer, depending on the country from which a child is being adopted. For domestic adoptions, it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months (or longer), depending on:

• Whether an interstate versus intrastate adoption is being pursued
• Whether an adoptive parent is working with an agency or lawyer
• How long it takes to prove that all eligibility requirements for Indiana adoptions have been fulfilled.

Q: How much does adopting a child cost?

A: Again, it depends on the type of adoption being pursued, as well as how you choose to move forward with the adoption (i.e., with an agency or an attorney). Some of the fees that can generally be expected with domestic adoptions include (and may not be limited to):

• Registration and application fees
• Home study application and reporting fees
• Agency or attorney fees
• Court fees
• Medical costs (if adopting a newborn)
• Post-placement supervision fees.

For international adoptions, the fees can include all of the above, as well as foreign agency fees and international document fees (so the child can legally be brought to the U.S.).

In some cases, fee waivers or financial assistance may be available to cover some of the costs of adoption.

A lawyer can provide you with more specific answers regarding adoption costs, based on the details of your situation.

Q: How can a lawyer help me with an adoption in Indiana?

A: In addition to explaining the process and what to expect as you move forward, an attorney can help you:

• Properly complete and file all necessary paperwork
• Gather the necessary documents to prove you meet the basic adoption requirements
• Prepare for the home study
• Successfully navigate the adoption process so you can get back to what’s more important – spending time with your family.

Get More Answers Now: Contact a Fort Wayne Adoption Lawyer at Finderson Law, LLC

If you are ready to adopt one or more children, call a Fort Wayne adoption lawyer at Finderson Law, LLC at (260) 420-8600 or email our firm. When you contact us and set up a free, no obligations consultation, you can get clear answers about the adoption process and your legal options for proceeding.

With more than two decades’ experience helping clients resolve their important legal matters, our attorneys are diligent, dedicated problem solvers who are skilled at helping clients navigate the adoption process.

We are ready to partner with you to understand your specific legal needs and goals and to protect your rights and interests throughout the adoption process.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about your legal options and how our representation can make all the difference in your adoption.

We’ve helped and satisfied hundreds of clients. Our history of providing the highest quality legal services – and delivering exceptional results – has earned us a 5-star rating on Facebook.

From offices in Fort Wayne, we are proud to represent clients throughout Allen County and the state of Indiana.

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1: Indiana adoption law