Have you ever wondered how long it takes to adopt? Of course, every situation is unique, but here is a good guide as to what you can expect if your family is pursuing adoption.
Months 1-3
During the first three months, it’s time to research different types of adoptions and other resources you might need. Jumping in and learning everything you can is going to really help you understand the process and prepare you and your family to accept a child. I encourage you to spend some time in this phase learning anything and everything you can!
Months 3-6
Once you have decided which avenue you want to use to adopt, then you can begin the process of finding an agency or other adoption professional that would be right for you and your family. Once you find the right fit for your family, then you will want to figure out your adoption budget and when different fees are due.
Months 6-9
Finally, things can start really moving! During this stage, you will start gathering all the paperwork you will need to complete a home study for approval, and create an adoption portfolio.
Months 8-24
Eight to twenty-four months is the typical timeframe to be able to match with an expecting parent for traditional adoption, receive referrals for international adoption, or match to a genetic family if you are pursuing embryo adoption.
Months 12-30
Unless there are delays, this is the average window for a child to be placed in your home for adoption.
Months 18-36
It’s time to finalize your adoption! This can be a little time consuming to complete all the post-placement visits needed to finalize your adoption.
While every family has its own journey, I hope this timeframe can give you a general idea of how long adoption can take. This isn’t always a fast process but it is worth every second to add your child into your home.
This time frame was adapted from an Adoptive Families resource.
