Adopting a child is a wonderful process, but it can be complex. Here are frequently asked questions that families ask concerning the adoption process.
Frequently Asked Adoption Questions
Pray. You and your spouse should pray together and seek the Lord’s will for your lives concerning adoption. You can also call our office for a no-obligation phone interview to discover your desires and preferences in adoption.
Please be advised that because of Nightlight’s Christian religious convictions, a couple applying for adoption must be married for at least 2 years. We further believe that the Scriptures define marriage as an exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in a lifetime commitment. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:21-33)
We have seen the process last anywhere from a few days to a few years. It differs greatly depending on things like your preferences, the birthmother’s preferences, the consent by the child (if older than twelve-years-old), and other variables.
The cost can vary greatly, but what we have seen recently at Nightlight is an average of $17,575 + birthmother expenses. Most state laws say that birthmothers who are placing their child for adoption are entitled to reasonable living expenses during the time of their pregnancy until six weeks post-partum.
This, of course, will vary; but so far, we have always had at least one birth mother that we were presently working with. At times, we have had several birth mothers at the same time.
We can complete a home study in a little as a few weeks. It depends on how timely you return the requested materials and on other factors including how quickly your background checks can be processed. By comparison, the state is often backlogged in their home studies. It is not unusual for a home study by the state to take up to or even more than six months.
Yes, if you are wanting to adopt a child from Florida. You must go through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). You must have a licensed agency in your home state complete your home study. ICPC may charge a fee for your interstate adoption.
Has God placed adopting on your heart? We believe that God calls out and raises up families to adopt. Do you have a sense of calling for adoption? Speaking with one of our trained staff members may be helpful as you think through this important decision.
No. In addition to infants, Nightlight can place older children through our international program.
An open adoption allows some degree of contact with the birthmother after the placement of the child and the finalization of adoption. A closed adoption allows for no such contact. Most of the adoptions at Nightlight are semi-open. This means that letters and pictures can be exchanged through our agency, but no identifying information is ever disclosed.
