Domestic vs. International Adoption

When you are looking into adoption, one of the biggest decisions you will make will be whether to adopt domestically or internationally.  

A domestic adoption means that you are adopting from the same country in which you reside, while an international adoption involves adopting from a country other than the one in which you currently reside. 

There are pros and cons to both domestic and international adoption, and ultimately the decision is yours.  You must do what is best for your family- however there are some things to keep in mind:

§       Domestic

o      There tends to be a smaller pool of healthy children to adopt. 

o      When domestically adopting, you should always consider foster care adoption. 

o      Requirements and fees vary by state and depending on the agency you work with.

o      The agency you select is one of the most critical decisions you will make- research and meet with them to ensure that they fit with your needs and desires.

o      Consider both open and closed adoptions.

§       International

o      Changing standards for different countries that are often times based on the political and military stability of the country. 

o      Must meet the requirements of the state, US and foreign governments, and the Hague Convention, which is meant to protect children involved in inter-country adoption.

o        Procedures vary from country to country so educate yourself on the procedures for the country of your choice.

o      Because of all the background checks that must be done, the child will be at least three months old (in most circumstances) when you are finally able to bring him/her home. 

In both cases, it is important that you consider both agency adoption and private adoption.  Both have pros and cons and will be touched on in a later post.  

And when considering international adoption, remember to keep in mind the Hague Convention guidelines for International adoption that will be touched upon in a later post.