If you’re considering openly adopting a child from another country, you’re likely feeling excited about your journey to parenthood. Not only will it change your life – but the life of a child looking for a safe and loving home.
While this is an extremely happy time, it can also come with challenges – and there are certain legalities and criteria you need to comply with. Here, we explore open adoption, some of the criteria for adopting a child from overseas, the importance of cultural awareness and how to get help with the process.
What is open adoption?
An open adoption is a form of adoption that involves the birth parent(s) of the child staying in contact with them. This may be through letters, pictures or presents. The contact may be made directly between the birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) or semi-directly, which may involve a caseworker or mediator passing along the information.
Can you adopt a child from overseas?
Yes, you can, if you meet the necessary criteria. The government says that you can adopt a child from outside the UK if “they cannot be cared for in a safe environment in their own country”, “the adoption would be in their best interests” and “the adopter has been assessed as eligible and suitable to adopt from overseas by an adoption agency in the UK”.
If you’re approved and matched to a child, “you need to visit the child in their own country and confirm in writing that you’ve visited them and want to proceed with the adoption”.
Why is cultural awareness important when adopting from overseas?
If you’re considering adopting a child from another country, it’s important to be aware of their culture and ensure that the needs of the child and birth family are respected.
Gain an understanding of their cultural traditions, language, food and so on. This is particularly important if you’re doing an open adoption, so you can explain to the child about their biological family and where they come from.
There are many ways you can celebrate their culture, such as learning about their native language or certain holidays.
How to get help with your adoption
If you’re considering any form of adoption, it’s worth speaking to expert family law solicitors who can help you on your journey.
The process can be long and difficult with various legal complexities, so having an experienced and knowledgeable legal team can be extremely valuable.
They can help with various aspects of adoption, including establishing contact with a birth parent, international adoption and adoption orders made abroad. Advice can also be given on same-sex couple adoption rights, surrogacy and more.
Getting tailored advice can help you successfully navigate this exciting path to parenthood. You can also find more information on giving an adopted child their forever home via the government website.
