If you are one of those who have taken a conscious decision not to have babies, there may come about a time in your lives when you begin to feel the void and start to yearn for a family. Or you may have tried to have a kid but for reasons beyond your control, you are unable to do so. Whatever be the reason, there are some couples who have no hesitation in adopting a kid and are mentally tuned towards bringing it up as their very own.

What does the law say?

What do such couples do? Where do they begin their search? And how do they go about the actual adoption if they are lucky to locate a baby?

In India, the laws of adoption haven’t been given too much thought. It is only Hindus who have the right to adopt a baby in the fullest sense. Such babies are automatically integrated with the family and are given full rights as heirs to the parents’ property and wealth. The other communities can only function as guardians or caretakers and the children have no right to inherit.

Where do couples who are interested in adoption begin?

1. First learn all you can about adopting a baby. Read up relevant books and be mentally prepared. Find out about the laws of adoption in your country. Try and become a member of a support group and exchange ideas.
2. Next, select an agency (preferably a reputed one) and register yourself. Find out about the kind of children they help to place, their fees, how they assess and prepare families. Contact other parents who have succeeded in adopting a baby from the agency. It is important to see if the agency is registered and is authorized to give babies for adoption.
3. Have a series of meetings with the social worker from the agency. Examine all documents like birth certificate and show the agency your marriage certificate and also some personal references. See that you have at least one meeting in your home so that you can be assessed properly as a suitable parent. A home-study report is prepared.
4. Once they are satisfied, the agency sets the ball in motion. Other adoption agencies are contacted and networked. Soon, you are given a list of available children and given details of age and you are asked to check if other criteria are matched according to your requirements. This might take a long time and requires a lot of patience as both the agency and you have to be totally satisfied.
5. There is a possibility that other parents have also been notified about the same child – in which case the decision rests with the agency worker who decides on the parents who can best meet the child’s needs.
6. Once you are selected, other details like the child’s actual background and biological parents may be revealed to you to facilitate your taking an informed decision as to whether the child will suit you. This is followed by a series of meetings with the identified child.
7. A medical examination of the child follows and the prospective parents can now take a final decision. Agreements are drawn up with legal assistance and a legal intent to adopt petition is then filed.
8. The child is allowed to reside with the adoptive parents in what is called the pre-adoptive foster care.
9. The child becomes a legal part of your family when the judge passes a decree to this effect in a court session which you will have to attend. After this, you will be in possession of an amended birth certificate along with a certificate of adoption.
10. However, this is certainly not the end. Adoptive parenting needs a lot of support and services for your child’s needs and you will continue to learn about ways of bringing up your new bundle of joy! You may even want to adopt again after the first wonderful experience of giving life to a child!

The relationship between an adopted child and its foster parents are very special indeed! In most cases, the child is welcomed into the family as a rightful member and is not made to feel that it is an adopted child. The joy that such a baby brings to the parents is indescribable. Adopted children are known to have brought together even couples who have been on the brink of separation and brought about happy endings to unhappy marriages.

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