Is Adoption Right for You? Factors to Consider Before You Adopt

You may be considering adopting a child for any of a number of reasons. Perhaps you are unable to have children of your own. Maybe you already have a family and want to provide a home for a child in need. Adoption can be an extremely rewarding experience or it can be fraught with challenges. Here are some things to consider before you file for adoption.

Your Reasons for Adopting

There are other reasons than simply wanting a child. If you can’t have children biologically, adoption can give you the family you want. But some things you want to consider. First, have you taken the time to grieve your inability to have biological children? Do you view adoption as “the next best alternative”? If so, you may (consciously or subconsciously) view your child as less than what you really wanted. And how strong is your relationship with your spouse or partner? Are you looking at adoption as a way to improve that relationship? Sadly, that never really works.

The Time and Financial Commitments of Parenthood (and Adopting)

It will probably cost you at least $25,000 to complete an adoption. Estimates indicate that it can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 annually to raise a child. In addition, the time commitment is huge and unrelenting. Kids don’t live life on a schedule. You may be up all night with a sick kid and still have to go to work in the morning.

The Different Types of Adoptions

You can adopt a child domestically (within the United States) or internationally. With an international adoption, there is less likelihood of an ongoing relationship with the birth parent, and less likelihood that your adopted child will try to seek out their birthparent. The costs of an international adoption are typically a little higher than a domestic adoption.

Adoption may be open (you and/or your child maintain an ongoing relationship with the birthparent) or closed. With an open adoption, there can be an ongoing sense that the child has two families. For some adoptive parents, this can make it feel like the child is little more than a visitor. But many adoptive parents believe it is best in the long term that the child knows his or her heritage.

An adoption may be private or through an agency. With a private adoption, there can be less red tape, but it can also be more difficult to find a child that needs to be adopted.

Adoption Attorneys in New Jersey

At the law office of Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC, our lawyers bring more than 25 years of experience to every matter we handle. Attorney Donald C. Cofsky has personally handled more than 1,500 adoption proceedings since joining the bar in 1974. Attorney Bruce D. Zeidman has protected the interests of clients in state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 1984. We understand the challenges you face, and can help you identify all your options so that you can make good decisions that are in your best long-term interests.

Contact our office online or call us at (856) 429-5005 in Haddonfield, NJ, at (856) 429-5005 in Woodbury, NJ, or in Philadelphia, PA, at (856) 429-5005. We also provide a free initial consultation in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters.