Considering Adoption? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Adoption is undoubtedly a wonderful thing to do. Different people will have their unique reasons for adopting, however, adoption can be a rewarding experience for anyone. Before getting started with the process, it’s vital to fully consider whether adoption is right for you and your family.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about child adoption in Scotland. 

Eligibility

Before deciding to settle on adoption, there may be some reasons why you’re not able to adopt. This includes being under 21 years of age and having lived in Scotland for less than a year. If you don’t meet the needed criteria, it may be worth waiting to adopt. 

You may be able to adopt in Scotland if you’re:

• Aged 21 or above
• Single or a couple
• Part of the LGBTQIA+ community
• A parent already, or not
• You were not born in Scotland, but have lived here for more than one year

A home assessment will also need to be completed, as well as a thorough background check on your circumstances. Your home will be surveyed, to ensure it is an appropriate place for a child to live safely. For example, those with a criminal record might not be able to adopt. Consider whether you can realistically provide for a child at the current stage of your life.

Finding the Right Match

It’s important to consider what you’re looking for in a child before deciding to adopt. To help you do so, many adoption agencies will host events for you to attend.

If you decide to go ahead with potential child adoption, you may attend what is known as an Exchange Day. Here, you will be able to see the full profiles of different children, including photographs and contributions from the child about what sort of family they might like. It’s therefore a good idea to consider what a child might like about you. Try to match your interests with those you read in the offered profiles to find the right fit. 

Another potential event you might get the opportunity to attend is an Activity Day. Here, you will be able to engage with a group of children through games and tasks, to see who you might bond with well. This will be very different to reading profiles alone, so prepare to properly get involved on the day to get a full understanding of each child.

One of the most important things to consider is to be open to other options. Your assigned social care worker will help you find the right child for you and even may suggest some candidates you might not have considered on your own. 

Our Family Law Services

If you decide that child adoption is right for you, our legal services at DJP Solicitors can help you legally adopt a child with ease. As experts in family law, from child custody to medical care disputes, we can help you settle any case to make sure you are properly reunited with your child. 

Visit our website to learn more about us and our services, or get in touch with our team directly today.