Many people in Florida have become grandparents through the adoption process. Instead of having biological children, their children decided to adopt a child that might have otherwise been lost in the foster care system. This can be a rewarding experience for both the parents and grandparents. However, there’s a few things that grandparents should know about the adoption system.
What do grandparents need to know about adoption?
Most states give the birth parent plenty of time to change her mind about giving the child up for adoption. In fact, some states don’t allow the mother to give up the child until she’s recovered from the birthing process. Prospective grandparents prepare themselves for the possibility that the birth mother changes her mind about relinquishing her parenthood.
Even in the case of uncontested adoptions, adopting a child can take much longer than birthing a biological child. If someone wants to adopt a child from another country, the process could easily take a year or two. Prospective grandparents should realize that unlike a pregnancy, there’s no consistent timeline for the adoption process.
Grandparents should also accept that the parents might not want to share a lot of information about the child. In fact, some adoption agencies advise the parents not to share information about the child’s circumstances or birth parents until they’re old enough to share their story themselves. This gives the child some privacy and control over their own narrative.
Are you thinking about adopting a child?
Whether you’re thinking about adopting a relative, a child in the foster care system or a child from another country, an attorney could help you every step of the way. To start, they could examine your situation and help you figure out if you’re eligible to adopt a child. From there, they could help you through the adoption process.