Adopting a child may be what you need to make your family complete.
When you decide to start a family, there are many important decisions to be made. Adopting a child, for example, might be the right choice for your family. But even after you make this decision, there are still many things you need to decide. In South Carolina, you have many options for adoption, including international adoption, domestic adoption or special-needs adoption.
Instructions
1. Be prepared for evaluation. Before you can adopt a child in South Carolina, you, your family and your household need to pass many evaluations. Every family member in your home 18 years or older will undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check. You'll also be checked against the Central Registry of Abuse and Neglect. Your finances, size of your home, and family relationships, including your marriage, will all be evaluated. You will also be asked a series of personal questions about your parenting style, childhood and relationships with the other members of your family.
2. Find a reputable adoption agency and adoption attorney in South Carolina. Look into the credentials of each before choosing one. For example, an adoption agency should be licensed and should have experience with the type of adoption you want to pursue, such as domestic infant adoption or international infant adoption. The attorney you choose should also be licensed with the state and should have experience with adoptions in South Carolina. All states have different laws, so it's important that your attorney has experience in your state. Note that an attorney is necessary when pursuing a private adoption in South Carolina.
3. Schedule an appointment with the South Carolina Department of Social Services if you wish to pursue adoption of an older child or special-needs child, who most likely will be in foster care. Part of the adoption process for older or special-needs children in South Carolina is taking 14 hours of pre-adoption education classes.
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