As surprising as it seems, adoption as a legal process in the United States dates back less than two centuries, to a time just before the American Civil War. Before states started establishing legal guidelines, adoption was little more than an informal practice. But much has changed in the last 150 years. Here’s a snapshot of what adoption looks like in America today.

The Overwhelming Number of Adoptions Are Domestic

Though international adoptees tend to be more visible, then number of children adoption from other countries has plummeted in the last decade, from more than 23,000 in 2004 to less than 6,500 in 2014. That’s less than 5% of the 135,000 minors adopted in the United States every year. Experts say that some countries have closed their borders to adoption and others have dramatically curtailed international adoptions. Nonetheless, the United States still adopts more children internationally than the rest of the world combined.

Nearly Half of All U.S Adoptions Are of Children in Foster Care

Statistics gathered by the Child Welfare Information Gateway indicate that approximately 40% of U.S. adoptions are through the nation’s foster care system. Sources say that more than 50,000 children go from foster care to being adopted each year, but it’s less than one-third of the eligible children. Nearly a third of the children in foster care will be there for at least three years before being adopted.

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To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

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