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Summary

Adoption is one alternative for providing for your children if you become permanently incapacitated or die.

Adoption is a legal proceeding in which a parent-child relationship is created between adults and a child. The adopted child becomes entitled to all the rights and privileges of a natural child of the new parents.

Adoption requires both your consent and that of the child's other parent, unless he or she has abandoned the child.

Before legalizing an adoption, a court will review and approve the person or people who want to adopt a child to make sure there is a fitness to be parents.

Adoptions are final. There's no going back unless there are unusual circumstances.

Before placing a child for adoption, carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages before moving forward.

If you are considering adoption just to ensure care of your child after you're gone, it is preferable to wait until:

  • Your condition is almost certain to be terminal in the near future or

  • Your condition is expected to result in permanent incapacitation that leaves you unable to care for your children.

If a cure for your condition is found, it can be difficult -- if not impossible - to regain legal custody of your children.

For additional information

There are many resources available to obtain information about and assistance in finding an adoptive family for your children. Start with your social worker or caseworker at your local disease specific non-profit organization.

If you'd like to do some research on your own, some internet resources include:

What Are the Advantages And Disadvantages of Adoption?

While adoption can be a means of providing for your children when no other alternatives exist, it should not be entered into without considerable thought. Weigh the following carefully, as well as your own personal considerations.

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

Support: Your children will have the same right to support from the adoptive parents as if they were born to them. You will not be required to provide for them financially.

 

Standard of Living: The standard of living of your child's adoptive family may not be that to which your child is accustomed. One way around this is to place assets in a trust to provide funds for your child's support. To learn more, see Trusts.

 

 

Adoption is permanent: The adoptive parents do not risk losing custody.

 

 

Decision making: You lose all of your rights to custody of the children and to make decisions for them once the adoption is finalized.

 

Chance to adjust: If the adoption occurs while you are alive, it will give the children the opportunity to adjust to a new family while you lend them emotional support.

 

 

Stress on a child: An adoption or contemplation of adoption while you are still alive may stress the children because it would be a constant reminder that you are ill and will probably be gone one day.

 

Peace of mind: You'll have the chance to meet the adoptive family and explain your wishes to them.