10 Questions Adoptive Parents Should Ask

Adopting a child is a life-changing decision. It requires careful thought, preparation, and commitment. Many families dream of adopting but may feel uncertain about when the time is right. At Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC, we’ve guided over 1,500 families through the adoption process. We understand the importance of ensuring you’re ready before taking this significant step.

1. Are You Financially Prepared for Adoption?

Adoption often comes with significant costs. These may include:

  • Agency or facilitator fees
  • Legal expenses for securing parental rights
  • Home study fees
  • Travel costs for international adoptions

Domestic adoptions can range from $20,000 to $50,000. International adoptions often cost more due to travel and government fees. Foster care adoptions typically involve lower costs. Understanding your financial readiness is essential. Work with a skilled lawyer to create a clear financial plan.

How Legal Guidance Can Help

At Cofsky & Zeidman, we assist families in managing adoption expenses. Our team ensures you understand the financial commitments and legal requirements.

2. Have You Researched Different Types of Adoption?

Each adoption type has unique processes and challenges. Understanding these options helps you decide what’s right for your family. The main types of adoption include:

Domestic Adoption

Adopting within the United States offers various paths. These include agency adoptions, private adoptions, and stepparent adoptions. Domestic adoptions may involve open or closed arrangements.

International Adoption

International adoption involves adopting from another country. It includes additional steps, like visa applications and compliance with international laws.

Foster Care Adoption

Adopting from foster care provides a home for children in need. These adoptions are often less costly but may involve emotional complexities.

3. Are You Emotionally Ready for the Adoption Journey?

Adoption can be an emotional process. It involves navigating legal steps, potential delays, and possible uncertainties. Ask yourself:

  • Are you prepared for the challenges of parenting an adopted child?
  • Are you ready to support your child’s emotional needs?
  • Can you handle potential changes in adoption plans?

Older children or children from foster care may require extra emotional support. They may face attachment challenges or grief. Your readiness to provide a stable, loving environment is critical.

4. Do You Have a Support System?

Raising a child requires a strong support network. Family, friends, and community connections play a key role. Support is especially important when navigating the challenges of adoption.

Tips for Building a Support Network:

  • Join adoption support groups.
  • Connect with other adoptive families.
  • Work with experienced adoption professionals.

At Cofsky & Zeidman, we help families connect with trusted resources. Our goal is to ensure you have the support needed for success.

5. Are You Ready for the Legal Process?

Adoption involves many legal steps. These include terminating birth parents’ rights, finalizing parental rights, and complying with state or international laws. A skilled lawyer ensures the process is smooth and secure.

Key Legal Steps in Adoption:

  • Home Study: Evaluates your home’s safety and readiness for a child.
  • Parental Rights Termination: Ensures birth parents’ rights are legally terminated.
  • Finalization Hearing: Formalizes the adoption in court.

At Cofsky & Zeidman, we handle every legal detail, so families can focus on bonding with their child.

6. Can You Provide a Stable Home Environment?

Children need stability to thrive. Evaluate your home environment and lifestyle. Ask yourself:

  • Do you have a safe, child-friendly home?
  • Are your daily routines adaptable for a child’s needs?
  • Can you commit to providing long-term care and support?

Stability doesn’t mean perfection. It means creating a loving and predictable environment for your child to grow.

7. Have You Considered the Impact on Your Family?

Adoption affects everyone in your household. If you have other children, discuss the decision with them. Consider how adoption may change family dynamics. Ensure all family members are ready to welcome a new child.

8. Do You Understand Post-Adoption Responsibilities?

Adoption doesn’t end with finalization. It’s a lifelong commitment. This includes supporting your child’s emotional, educational, and social needs. It may also involve honoring post-adoption agreements with birth parents.

Post-Adoption Contact Agreements (PACAs):

PACAs outline the level of contact between birth and adoptive families. These agreements must comply with state laws. At Cofsky & Zeidman, we ensure PACAs protect everyone’s rights and interests.

9. Are You Prepared for Cultural and Identity Considerations?

If adopting a child of a different race or culture, consider how this impacts your family. Learn about the child’s cultural background and incorporate it into your family life. This helps your child feel connected to their identity.

10. How a Skilled Lawyer Helps You Prepare

Adoption is complex. Legal guidance ensures the process is secure and compliant with all laws. A lawyer also protects your rights and helps avoid pitfalls.

Benefits of Working with Cofsky & Zeidman:

  • Over 25 years of adoption law experience.
  • Guidance through domestic, international, and foster care adoptions.
  • Support with financial planning and legal documentation.
  • Assistance with post-adoption agreements and parental rights.

Final Thoughts: Knowing When You’re Ready to Adopt

Adoption is a life-changing journey that requires careful preparation. By assessing your emotional, financial, and legal readiness, you can ensure a smooth process. At Cofsky & Zeidman, we’re here to support every step of your adoption journey. With over 1,500 adoptions handled, we have the experience to guide you with care and expertise.

If you’re considering adoption, contact Cofsky & Zeidman today. Let us help you make informed decisions and create the family you’ve always dreamed of.

International vs. Domestic Adoption: What’s the Best Choice for Your Family?

Adoption is a transformative journey for families, but one of the first and most significant decisions prospective parents must make is whether to pursue international or domestic adoption. Each option has its own set of challenges and rewards, and understanding the differences can help you determine which path is the best fit for your family.

At Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC, we’ve helped families navigate both domestic and international adoptions for over 25 years. In this blog, we’ll break down the key considerations for each type of adoption and how you can prepare for this life-changing experience.

Understanding Domestic Adoption

Domestic adoption involves adopting a child from within the same country, often through either an agency or a private arrangement. This process can vary greatly depending on the type of adoption pursued.

Types of Domestic Adoption
  • Agency Adoption: This involves working with a licensed adoption agency to place a child with an adoptive family. Agencies typically handle the legalities, matching, and post-adoption follow-up.
  • Private Adoption: In a private adoption, the adoptive family works directly with the birth parents, usually facilitated by an attorney. The birth mother selects the adoptive family, and both parties agree on the terms of the adoption.
  • Stepparent or Family Adoption: When a stepparent or relative legally adopts a child, the process is often simpler but still requires legal oversight.
Advantages of Domestic Adoption
  1. Shorter Travel Requirements: With domestic adoption, you’ll typically avoid lengthy travel, reducing the time and expense involved.
  2. Open or Closed Adoptions: Domestic adoptions often offer flexibility regarding the level of contact between birth parents and adoptive parents. Open adoptions allow ongoing relationships, while closed adoptions maintain privacy for both parties.
  3. Potential for Infant Adoption: Domestic adoption often provides opportunities for newborn or infant adoption, particularly in private adoptions where birth parents may select the adoptive family before the child is born.
Challenges of Domestic Adoption
  1. Wait Times: While domestic adoptions may have shorter wait times than international ones, the wait can still vary significantly depending on factors like your location, preferences for the child’s background, or the availability of birth parents.
  2. Potential for Birth Parent Involvement: Depending on the situation, birth parents may be involved in the adoption process, which can sometimes lead to contested adoptions, where parental rights become a legal issue. Having an experienced adoption attorney like Cofsky & Zeidman on your side can help mitigate these challenges.

Exploring International Adoption

International adoption involves adopting a child from another country, which introduces its own set of logistical and legal complexities. The adoption process is governed not only by U.S. adoption laws but also by the laws of the child’s home country.

Types of International Adoption
  • Agency-Facilitated Adoption: Just like domestic adoptions, many international adoptions are facilitated by agencies that specialize in working with specific countries and navigating the various legal requirements.
  • Hague Convention Adoptions: The Hague Adoption Convention is an international treaty that seeks to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Adopting from a Hague Convention country adds certain protections but also some extra layers of bureaucracy.
Advantages of International Adoption
  1. More Predictable Timeline: Many international adoption processes have a more clearly defined timeline once a child is matched with an adoptive family, which can help prospective parents plan more effectively.
  2. Older Children Availability: If you’re looking to adopt an older child, international adoption may offer more opportunities, as many countries have programs aimed at finding homes for children beyond infancy.
Challenges of International Adoption
  1. Lengthy Travel and Visa Requirements: Adopting internationally often requires travel to the child’s country, sometimes for extended stays or multiple visits. Additionally, visa requirements and immigration paperwork can add complexity to the process.
  2. Varying Legal Frameworks: Each country has its own adoption laws and procedures, some of which may be stricter or more complex than others. It’s crucial to work with an adoption attorney experienced in international adoptions to navigate the foreign legal systems and ensure the process is compliant with both U.S. and foreign laws.
  3. Medical and Cultural Considerations: In some cases, medical histories may be incomplete, or the child may need special care due to conditions present in their birth country. Additionally, cultural considerations play an important role in helping the child adjust to their new family.

Choosing the Best Option for Your Family

Deciding between domestic and international adoption is a deeply personal choice. Factors like your comfort with travel, the age of the child you’d like to adopt, and your preference for an open versus closed adoption can all play a role. It’s also essential to understand the legal requirements and potential challenges involved in both types of adoption.

At Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC, we guide families through every step of the adoption process, whether you choose to adopt domestically or internationally. With over 25 years of experience and over 1,500 adoptions handled by our team, we are well-versed in the intricacies of both types of adoption and can help you make the best decision for your family.

If you’re considering adoption, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you explore your options and ensure your adoption journey is as smooth as possible.

What You Need to Know about New Jersey’s Adoption Laws

New Jersey Adoption Laws and Regulations

More than a hundred thousand children in foster care were eligible for adoption in the United States as of 2021. Whether you are looking to adopt or wishing to place a child for adoption, there are some things you’ll want to know about adoption laws in New Jersey.

What Are New Jersey’s Adoption Laws?

New Jersey has rules and regulations concerning who can adopt a child. Some of them also protect birth mothers.

Both Parents Have to Agree to the Adoption

In New Jersey, both parents (if a married couple is adopting) need to agree when looking to adopt a child. The reason is simply to ensure the child is wanted. Conversely, both parents need to agree to the adoption when giving up parental rights. The birth mother and father need to consent or waive their right to do so. If a birth father isn’t known, an adoption agency can attempt to contact potential birth fathers. They will communicate with the potential fathers to reduce stress.

When a new baby is born, the birth parents have 72 hours to consider the decision before the adoption can happen. More time can be given if necessary or requested. The purpose here is to make sure both parents wish to give the baby up for adoption.

Adoptive Families Can Help With Birth Expenses

Pregnancy and birth expenses can be covered by the adoptive family if the birth mother does not have the financial resources for such expenses. Adoptive families in New Jersey can cover pregnancy expenses starting in the fourth week. They can also cover birth costs and adoption-related costs as well if the birth mother is unable to do so. This includes legal costs if a New Jersey adoption attorney is involved.

Who Can Adopt in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, adoptive parents must be at least 18 years of age and at least 10 years older than the child they wish to adopt. Also, prospective adoptive parents need to pass a home study. This applies to both in-state adoptions and ones where the adoptive parents are from another state. A home study normally includes:

  • A visit to the adoptive parents’ home
  • Interviews with the adoptive parents
  • A criminal background check
  • Interviews with anyone else who lives in the home
  • Interviews with employers
  • Interviews with character references (which may be done by phone or in person)
  • Proof of income

These requirements apply even if the adoptive parents already have children. These laws are meant to protect the child and give the birth mother added peace of mind. The home study process also includes 27 hours of training for prospective adoptive parents. Topics covered include dealing with loss and handling basic parenting duties or responsibilities.

After a successful home study is completed, the adoptive parents must be approved by the Office of Licensing. This step involves another visit to the home by a license inspector. Approval for adoption normally occurs after a successful license inspection. If the child is not a newborn, they will have a chance to express their feelings about the potential adoption as well if they are old enough to do so. Even if a newborn is requested, it may take time for one to become available through the adoption process since this is a popular request. The state has a database of waiting children who are older and looking to be adopted.

The Adoption Agency May Have Additional Requirements

Adoption agencies in New Jersey may have, for example, an extra screening process or a more detailed one. Some agencies are religion-based, and they may limit their adoptions to traditional married couples. Other agencies are broader when it comes to who can adopt through their agency. Do some checking ahead of time to see what applies to the agencies you are considering.

Learning More About Your Birth Parents

New Jersey makes it easier for adopted children to learn more about their birth parents when they turn 18. Adopted children now have the legal right to obtain their birth certificate. New Jersey has a database for children of adopted parents to find contact information for their parents or birth mother. However, the birth mother has the right to request that they not be contacted by their child. Birth mothers or both parents can change this information if they change their minds later and wish to be contacted.

Contact Cofsky & Zeidman today to talk to a New Jersey adoption attorney for assistance with the adoption process. We have offices in Haddonfield and Woodbury.

USCIS Makes It Easier to Transmit Citizenship to Children Born Abroad

What You Need to Know About the New USCIS Rules

There are roughly 9 million U.S. citizens currently living abroad. Typically, they are able to transfer their citizenship to any children they have, but things get a little more complicated when reproductive assistance is involved. Fortunately, a recent update from USCIS makes it much easier for parents to give their child U.S. citizenship.

USCIS Announces Changes to Citizenship Rules for Children Born Abroad

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is typically responsible for handling citizenship matters for children born in other countries. Previously, their rules allowed biological children of U.S. citizens or step-children of U.S. citizens to gain citizenship. However, the rules were a little vague, so it left some children in a legal gray area.

 

A few months ago, USCIS updated its rules to clarify that children born of assisted reproductive technology (ART) can also apply for citizenship. As long as the U.S. citizen is married to the child’s genetic or gestational parent, they can transfer citizenship to that child. This allows families to give their child citizenship even if the child was conceived through sperm donors, surrogate pregnancies, or other ART means.

What the New Rules Will Mean for International Families

This new rule will simplify the citizenship application process for international families. Before the update, parents of children conceived with ART could usually only get their child citizenship if they formally adopted the child. This added extra paperwork and visits with New Jersey adoption lawyers when parents were trying to visit the United States or ensure their child has all the rights of a U.S. citizen. Many struggled because their country of residency counted them as a legal parent, but the U.S. saw them as neither a step-parent, adoptive parent, or biological parent.

 

With this new rule, non-traditional parents will have the same rights as other biological parents. For example, if a woman used donor sperm because her husband was sterile, the husband could still transfer his American citizenship to his child. The new rule just requires that the U.S. citizen be married to the person who carried the child or contributed genetic material to the child. As long as they meet this requirement, they can apply for naturalization and transmit their citizenship to their child.

How to Confirm Your Child’s Citizenship

If your family was created through ART, now is a great time to start formalizing their citizenship. If you’re abroad, try to visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible to file a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. This doesn’t start the official immigration process, but it makes the rest of the process easier.

 

When your child is born abroad and lives abroad, they don’t automatically get to come and go from the United States as they please. Instead, you will still need to undergo a brief version of the immigration process. This doesn’t require extensive documentation, tests, or waiting periods. Instead, it’s just a simple formality to legally recognize that your child is a U.S. citizen.

You’ll need to submit some documentation to show that your child is eligible for naturalization. Here are some of the things you will need to do:

  • Show that the child is your legal child in your current jurisdiction.
  • Provide the child’s birth certificate or other proof of identification.
  • Confirm you are married to the child’s genetic or gestational parent.
  • Give evidence of your own U.S. citizenship.
  • Show that at least one parent has proof of residency or continual presence in the U.S.

If you think the new USCIS rules will affect your family, consult with a New Jersey adoption lawyer. Cofsky & Zeidman is happy to examine your situation and help you figure out how to get your child citizenship. We have offices in Haddonfield and Woodbury, and our team assists with a variety of adoptions and assisted reproduction situations. Schedule a free consultation by calling 856-429-5005 or filling out our contact form.

Tips to Help Your Adopted Child Connect With His or Her Ethnic Culture

How to Honor Your Adopted Child’s Ethnic Culture

Eighty-four percent of international adoptions and 28% of domestic adoptions involve children joining families of another race or ethnic group. In any cross-cultural adoption, it’s important to find ways to honor a child’s heritage. These tips can help your child stay connected to his or her past and avoid a traumatic loss of identity.

Stay Educated on Cultural Topics

As soon as you start considering transracial adoption, you also need to start doing your research. As an adoptive parent, it’s your duty to learn about your child’s culture. Read books about the area, learn about its history online and try to meet people with a similar background. Strive to learn about the child’s holidays, foods, clothing, language, traditions and cultural attitudes. If possible, ask the child, or his or her biological family, about his or her culture.

Even though you can never know what it’s like to grow up in that culture, you can still obtain valuable information that can help your child later. As your child grows up, he or she will most likely have questions about his or her culture. Being educated ensures that your child can trust you to give him or her the right answers.

Encourage the Whole Family to Participate

If your adopted child is taking Chinese lessons while his or her other siblings are at soccer, he or she can end up feeling isolated. To keep your child from feeling singled out, try to get the whole family to participate. Doing things like making time to celebrate holidays, adding traditional foods to everyday dinners or watching foreign television shows can help your child feel a sense of pride and security in his or her heritage.

Try to include cultural traditions in day-to-day life instead of making them into occasional events. Incorporating these customs into your life can be very enriching for you as well. Embracing more traditions in your family can add variety and educational opportunities to your daily life.

Provide Opportunities to Socialize With People From Similar Backgrounds

All the fun celebrations with family at home cannot entirely make up for the sense of community your child may have lost. Making sure he or she can take part in activities with people who look like him or her and have similar memories can help your child feel more connected.

Try to look for cultural festivals, after-school programs or community events in your area. You may want to see if you can arrange playdates with children of a similar background as well. If your New Jersey adoption attorney helped you arrange an open adoption, it can be helpful to schedule meetings with the child’s biological parents or relatives. Having more representation of his or her culture helps your child stay connected to his or her heritage.

Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Cultural Experiences

Though many cross-cultural adoptees report feeling like their parents prevented them from connecting with their culture, there are also plenty of other people who report resentment at being forced to take part in cultural activities. Especially if a child was adopted young or removed from a traumatic situation, he or she may not want to spend a lot of time thinking about his or her cultural heritage.

Celebrating an unusual holiday or eating exotic food can make a child feel further isolated or differentiated. If your child expresses these feelings, it’s important to acknowledge and accept them. Always allow your child’s unique preferences guide interactions, and let him or her know you are willing to help him or her connect with his or her culture if a different decision is made later.

For more ways to help the adoption process go smoothly, turn to Cofsky & Zeidman. Our New Jersey adoption attorney team is here to assist you with things like creating an open adoption agreement or filling out the right documents for an international adoption. We’ve helped families throughout the Haddonfield and Woodbury areas through the process of adoption. Learn more about our services by calling (856) 429-5005 or filling out our contact form.

COVID-19 and the Adoption Home Inspection Process

COVID-19 and Pre-Adoptive Home Inspections

When pre-adoptive parents first look into adopting a child, they’ll have to prove their fitness through a home study; these home studies have typically taken about 90 days to complete in the past, but they can take longer if they are disrupted. COVID-19 has proven especially adept at disrupting such routines, and the impacts on home studies aren’t limited to timing. Below are just a few ways COVID-19 has impacted home inspections for prospective adoptive families.

A Larger Caseload

One of the more pressing problems during COVID-19 has been a lack of available caseworkers. Whether individuals are quarantined, stuck in areas that are locked down, or simply at home with children who are engaging in distance learning, there are fewer caseworkers available to conduct home visits than in normal situations. As such, adoptive parents now find themselves waiting longer to get on the docket for visits with the usual wait times conceivably being several times longer than those in the past.

This may not seem like a huge COVID adoption change, but it does impact the timeline of adoption for many who are waiting to become parents. When adoption home inspections are slowed down, virtually everything else in the adoption process follows suit. When getting on the calendar takes more time, potential parents will find themselves stuck in a holding pattern.

Quicker Inspections

For good or for ill, the process of adoption home inspections has gotten quicker once caseworkers are able to get to the homes of prospective parents. Home inspections have never been particularly lengthy, of course, but they’ve generally been followed up by several questions and often even meetings with caseworkers. Today, though, most of those visits are being conducted as quickly as possible.

It’s wise to remember that those who feel like their adoption home inspections were carried out too quickly or inappropriately may need to contact a New Jersey adoption lawyer to challenge the decisions made and to get their applications back on track. Quick inspections might seem more efficient, but the decisions that spring from them aren’t always guaranteed to be as accurate as most would like.

Using Technology

Many adoption home inspections now use new technology to help speed along the pre-adoption home inspection process. Many agencies are beginning to use remote technology to get images of homes, ranging from teleconferencing software to pictures taken on smartphones. While both of these technologies certainly have their issues, they do allow agencies to gather data without having to potentially expose their agents to COVID-19. For many, this kind of technological innovation both removes some of the humanity from the adoption process and puts more power back in the hands of parents.

Remember, the remote sessions can often be conducted without a caseworker in the home. This means that not only do parents get to guide the camera, but they can also answer questions without having to get flustered by the stranger who might be in the room. While conducting these inspections remotely can be a double-edged sword, it is one that often cuts in the favor of the pre-adoptive parents.

Slower Processing

Finally, the adoption process is starting to run into the same kind of issue encountered in businesses and agencies across the world. Adoption home inspections are taking longer to process both because of the aforementioned lack of available caseworkers and because of many agencies bringing on fewer workers to adhere to social distancing regulations.

Slower processing of these inspections will naturally impact the timetable for any other adoption paperwork. Fortunately, many agencies do allow prospective parents to continue moving on with the other paperwork while the home inspection is being approved. Though not quite as problematic in the slowdown of actually assigning the home inspections, it should still be noted that virtually no adoptions can proceed until the home of the prospective parents has been approved via a home inspection.

You must understand how the process of getting your home inspected has changed because of COVID-19 and how it might impact your timeline for adoption. Though there’s little that you can do to speed things along, staying on top of your communications and making your home available can help. If you are struggling with the adoption process or you simply need representation to help you through it, make sure to contact a New Jersey adoption lawyer with the law firm of Cofsky & Zeidman in Haddonfield or Woodbury, New Jersey, either by phone at (856) 429-5005 or (856) 845-2555 or through the contact page.

Helping Your Adopted Child Adjust to Their New Home

How to Help Your Adopted Child Adjust

In New Jersey, the average stay in foster care is 2.9 years. A long-term stay in foster care makes it more difficult for a child to adjust when they’ve been adopted. A child may have fears of being sent back, so it’s important you know how to help your adopted child adjust to their new environment when you bring them home.

Make Sure Your Home Is Prepared for the Big Day

You’ll want to fully stock the refrigerator and prepare your child’s room for them before the big day. This will help them feel safe and reduce their stress in the transition when everything is already prepared for them. Also, buy all of the necessities your new child will need, such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap, and other personal items.

If you’re still going through the adoption process, consult with our NJ adoption lawyer to ensure your rights are protected. Some adoptive parents have experienced trouble with the birth parents. You want to make sure you’re legally secure to keep a calm, safe environment for the child. Even after the adoption, you can consult with an adoption lawyer to ensure legal issues go as smoothly as possible.

Big Celebrations Aren’t Recommended

It can be overwhelming for your child’s first day in his or her new home to include all of your relatives and friends. Adoption professionals recommend keeping this initial celebration between just you and any of the family members who live in the house. Once your adopted child is adjusted, you can allow others to participate in the celebration if you choose to celebrate their adoption day.

Focus on Your New Child the First Few Months


As some experts have explained, it’s important to treat adopting a child the same as bringing home a newborn for the first time. You must limit socialization with others during the initial transition period to focus on bonding with your new son or daughter. This helps the transition to go more smoothly.

Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment

Around two weeks after your child has had time to settle in, schedule a doctor’s appointment for them. This allows them to get to know the doctor and shows them that you’ll be a good parent who cares about their health.

Avoid Going Out When Possible

Young children will feel overwhelmed if they’re taken out in public often during transitioning into a new home. This is especially true if others touch them or interact with them. Stay at home with your new child as much as possible the first one to two months.

Stick to Routines

Routines are essential for raising children who feel safe and secure. Children need reassurance that their needs will be met in order to develop trust in their parents. By feeding them at the same time every day and giving them a bedtime, they have reassurance that you’re meeting their needs consistently. A bedtime is also important in helping them fall asleep easier. Establishing a time for bathing for young children should be another part of your routine.

Save Breaking Bad Habits for After the Transition Period

Don’t worry about addressing bad habits your child may have, such as thumb sucking, during the transition period. Wait until your child has adjusted to your home to avoid overwhelming them. You want to make sure your son or daughter knows they’re loved and safe with you. If your child is older and you feel concerned about them, you can ask them how they’re feeling and let them know you’re there if they need to talk. You can also ask your son or daughter if there’s anything that would help them feel safe.

Forgive Yourself When You Make Mistakes

Parents want to do everything right for their children, and there’s nothing wrong with that desire. However, you shouldn’t beat yourself up over mistakes. Acknowledge the mistake and ask yourself how you can avoid repeating it and how you can do better next time a similar situation arises. This is a productive way of responding to your missteps. It’s also OK to apologize to your child if you’ve made a mistake. They’ll respect you and learn that people apologize when they’ve made a mistake.

Helping your adopted child adjust is about showing them that they trust you to take care of them. It’s a private time between you and your child, so limit outside interactions for a month or two. Once your son or daughter has adjusted to their new environment, you can introduce them to other family members and take them out for fun activities.

Contact our NJ adoption lawyer at Cofsky & Zeidman today. You can reach us in Haddonfield at (856) 429-5005 or in Woodbury at (856) 845-2555 to go over the legal aspects of your adoption.

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