Adoption Frequently Asked Questions
Step-Parent Adoption FAQ
1. What is adoption?
Adoption of a child or children involves you becoming the legal guardian of the child/children. All the rights and responsibilities of parenthood are transferred to the adoptive parents through a formal Court process. Today adoption arrangements are characterised by openness, and continued links with significant people from the past.
2. Do I have to be married to adopt?
No – we consider all applicants equally irrespective of whether they are single, married, an unmarried couple, heterosexual, gay or lesbian.
3. How do I know if I would be suitable to adopt?
The following qualities are important in any adopter:
- Good General Health
- Stamina
- Open Mindedness
- Flexibility
- Realism about children
- Sense of Humour and Fun
- Patience
- Acceptance/tolerance
If you are unsure if you would be suitable please talk to us directly on 0114 273 5075.
4. We are a white English couple, could we adopt a dual heritage or black child?
Children will be placed with carers of a similar race or culture wherever this is possible and meets the childs' needs. Most agencies will strive initially to find adopters who are of similar racial and cultural origin to the child who needs the new family.
Where this would cause unreasonable delay in placing the child agencies may be prepared to consider adopters who can demonstrate the ability to value and promote the child’s ethnic and cultural background.
5. What are some of the reasons people adopt?
- Wish to become parents
- Unable to have children
- Unable to have further children
- Increasing family size without having further ‘birth’ children.
- Want to help a child have a family
6. What are the children like?
All the children will need help to overcome the effects of change, disruption and trauma to a greater of lesser extent. Generally the older the children are, the longer it may take them to settle and some children may always carry the emotional effects of their early adverse experiences.
7. Do we get a new birth certificate for the child?
No. A birth certificate cannot be changed. The certificate is withdrawn, as it is no longer valid and an adoption certificate is provided. Following the Court granting an Adoption Order the Court will send you a copy of the Adoption Order. This shows the child’s original name as well as the adopted name and the names of both birth parents.
At the same time, the Court sends a copy of the order to the Registrar General Office who are required by law to keep a record of all adoptions. After some weeks you will receive the “short” adoption certificate from them and you will then need to request the long certificate. This will show the applicants as the child’s adoptive parents. These adoption certificates take the place of birth certificates for all legal purposes.
8. I am on a low income – can I still adopt?
Being on a low income would not prevent you from adopting and would not prevent you from being assessed as an adopter. As an adoptive parent you would be expected to take on the financial responsibilities of a child as well as all other parental responsibilities. Sometimes, if a child has special needs or siblings are being adopted, in certain situations an adoption allowance can be given.
9. I am receiving benefits – can I still adopt?
Being on benefits would not prevent you from adopting and would not prevent you from being assessed as an adopter. As an adoptive parent you would be expected to take on the financial responsibilities of a child as well as the other parental responsibilities. Sometimes, if a child has special needs or siblings are being adopted, in certain situations an adoption allowance can be given.
10. I have a criminal conviction – can I still adopt?
Thorough checks have to be made on an applicant for adoption in order to secure a child's safety and this includes police checks through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Serious convictions would usually mean an applicant would not obtain approval, however, minor convictions may not be a bar if all other aspects of the application are positive.
(If you are unsure whether a criminal conviction would stop you being able to adopt please contact us to discuss it on 0114 273 5075).
11. Am I too old/young to adopt?
The minimum age to adopt is 21 years old, there is no maximum age but you must be fit and healthy enough to care for the child.
12. Will my religious beliefs affect me adopting?
Your religious beliefs are an aspect of you that will become particularly relevant if you become approved as an adopter. When a child needs an adoptive family, a family which matches the child in respect of religious belief and other things like race and culture will be aimed for.
13. I am disabled can I adopt?
Being disabled will not prevent you from adopting. What is important is that a person can show that they can give a child what she or he needs.
14. Can I adopt a baby?
There are more people waiting to adopt babies than there are babies available for adoption. There are many children over the age of 3 years waiting for the right family to adopt them. Applicants wanting to adopt children between the ages of 0-3 years will usually have to wait longer to be assessed than those wanting to adopt children over the age of 3 years.
There is a shortage of black adopters and multi heritage adopters so applications from these groups may be given priority.
15. Are there older children available for adoption?
There are children waiting for adoptive parents up to the age of 10 years and even older. Many are part of a sibling group of brothers and sisters and need to be placed together. Some children waiting for adoption are disabled or have specific health needs.
16. Will an adoptive child have contact with their birth family?
It is possible that an adopted child might have some contact with their birth family when it is in the child's best interests. This contact could be a face-to-face meeting or an exchange of letters and cards. Some children may have direct contact with brothers and sisters who cannot be placed with them or with other members of the family.
Sometimes there might be an exchange of information between the birth family and the adopted child via a third party. Every situation is unique and dependant upon the child's needs and best interests. Adopted children need to know about their past, birth heritage, language, religious and cultural background and these factors are considered when finding them a new family. The best family for a child will be one that reflects their birth heritage.
17. What is an ‘Adoption Panel’
The adoption panel is a group of people appointed to meet regularly. They deal with all agency matters relating to adoption. This includes making recommendations on:
- prospective adopters
- whether adoption is in a specific child's best interests
- matching of children to approved adopters
18. Will I receive training and support if I were to become an adopter?
Yes! A wide range of training and support is available throughout the entire adoption process and beyond. See our Adoption Support page for more information.
19. How long is the assessment procedure – what is involved?
For full information on the adoption process visit the adoption process page.
20. Who can’t be an adopter?
- People less than 21 years old.
- People with convictions for offences against children
- People with some medical conditions (If you are unsure about whether a medical condition you have could stop you adopting please contact us to discuss this).
- People who don’t have the additional space for a child in their home.
21. How do I apply?
Contact our team on 0114 273 5075 or use the contact form to arrange a time for us to call you back.
22. How do I adopt a child from outside the UK?
We sub-contract overseas adoptions to the Yorkshire Adoption Agency Ltd (formerly known as Doncaster Adoption and Family Welfare Society or DAFWS. The contact number is 01302 349909 you can reach them on email at info@yorkshireadoptionagency.org.uk
I would like to adopt my stepchild how do I go about this?
Sometimes step-parents want to adopt the children from the previous marriage or relationship of their new husband or wife. If you want to do this you must notify your local authority of your intention to do so. In Sheffield the Family Placements Service will advise you on this if you contact them and arrange for a social worker to visit you.
My child’s birth father is happy with the adoption – so isn’t this just a formality?
No. There are many factors that have to be assessed, including how adoption will affect other family members, including grandparents, contact issues, inheritance, etc. The Court will want to be assured that adoption is in the best, long-term interests of the child, and that any agreement is given freely and with full understanding of the effects of the Order.
My Ex has parental responsibility and says he will never agree to the adoption – is it worth proceeding?
The Court will do what is in the best interests of the child, and has the power to dispense with the absent birth parent’s agreement subject to certain criteria.
How do I apply?
Contact our team on 0114 273 5075 or use the contact form to arrange a time for us to call you back.
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