Adoption is a sacred and wonderful way to start a family give children a chance to grow in a loving family and give individuals or couples a chance to become parents.
Adoption is one of the most frequently used legal procedures in South Carolina that affects people’s lives.
Nevertheless, there are many adoption myths that can cause confusion and uncertainty among potential adoptive parents.
In this post, we will discuss some of the myths of adoption in South Carolina and help you demystify the myths by giving you the real facts about adoption.
Myth 1: Only Married Couples Can Adopt
One of the cultural beliefs is that only married persons are the ones who can adopt children.
It is thought that only singles or unmarried pairs cannot adopt and therefore, one has to be married to adopt a child in South Carolina.
Reality
As for single people and unmarried couples, they are both legally allowed to adopt a child as long as they meet all the South Carolina’s adoption laws.
This makes it possible for many people who want to adopt a child to take in children who otherwise cannot be taken care of by their biological families.
However, no matter whether you are single, living together, or married, the law does not differentiate between the families. The most important aspect is the capacity to ensure that the child has a stable home where he or she will be well taken care of.
Supporting information
The laws of adoption in South Carolina are open to single persons as well as unmarried couples for adoption, though they have to go through the same assessments as married couples.
Instead of marital status, the state’s Department of Social Services (DSS) and private adoption agencies evaluate the financial stability of the candidate, the conditions in the home where the child will be living, and the candidate’s psychological preparedness for parenthood.
These agencies take the interest of the child first and open the adoption door to all kinds of families.
Myth 2: Only the wealthy can adopt a child.
It is a cultural imperative that people with money are the only ones who can adopt because adoption is a very expensive affair.
This misconception can be very off-putting to many prospective adoptive parents who will assume that they cannot afford to adopt a child.
Reality
It is however important to note that there are different kinds of adoptions and that while private adoption or international adoption for instance may be costly, there are cheaper ways of adopting.
For instance, the use of foster care agencies in South Carolina to adopt a child is not costly or sometimes it is done at no fee. Also, there are options for financial support, which can help to pay the expenses needed for adoption, as well as tax credits.
It is not necessary to become a millionaire to adopt; the dream is a stable and loving home for a child.
Supporting information
Fostering through South Carolina foster care is cheap most of the expenses are catered for by the state. For other types of adoption, there are other expenses that may involve legal expenses, home study charges, and agency fees.
Nevertheless, there are other costs that may be incurred during adoption, including medical expenses, lawyer fees, and agency fees; but this can be catered for through federal adoption tax credit, employer adoption benefits, and state subsidies.
For instance, the federal adoption tax credit is up to $15,000 for eligible expenses so that more families can afford adoption. Also, some of the adoption agencies have adopted the policy of charging reasonable fees according to the income of the adopting family, thus making adoption cheap.
Myth 3: It is normal for adopted children to not have the same level of attachment to the adoptive parents.
One of the biggest myths is that the child who has been adopted cannot have the same close-knit relationship with the adoptive parents as a child who has been born into the family.
This belief may cause unnecessary anxiety to potential adoptive parents as they may feel that adoption will not bring about the same family bond as with the birth mother.
Reality
Adoptive families can also be very close and loving just like any other natural families in the society.
t is for this reason that love, care, and proper caregiving from one parent to the other child can be said to be the key to a good parent-child bond rather than genetics.
Foster families, like natural families, develop attachment to each other through time and through shared experience, trust, and caring.
Supporting information
Adoption has been proven scientifically to be a healthy and positive way to parent children since adoptive parents and children can develop secure attachments.
In the nature versus nurture debate about child development, the research shows that the quality of the relationship between parents and children is what determines who the child becomes and not the genes.
It has been found that by the right emotional environment, adoptee children as well have the same feelings of security and attachment as children that are born in the family.
Furthermore, the professionals in the field of attachment theory state that children who are constantly cared for by parents, biological or adoptive, are equally capable of having healthy, secure emotional well-being and forming close bonds with their adoptive families.
Myth 4: Birth parents can reclaim their child after adoption.
One of the biggest concerns that prospective adoptive parents have is that birth parents can decide to take back their child after the adoption process is complete.
It is this belief that makes many people develop concern over the stability and the permanency of the adoption process.
Reality
In South Carolina, once an adoption is legally effected, the birth parents’ rights are severed, and they cannot regain the custody of the child.
The legal process affords all the involved parties adequate time and assistance to make the right decisions before the adoption is complete, and thus the adoption is legal and permanent.
Supporting information
In South Carolina, there are several legal processes that are followed in order to perfect the adoption. If the birth parents decide to relinquish their parental rights or their rights are terminated by a court, they are offered a period of time in which they can change their mind (which depends on the circumstances).
After this period it is over and the birth parents have no legally recognized rights to the child and all the legal processes are done and sealed by a court of law.
The adoptive parents are given full and permanent responsibilities of the parent of the adopted child. South Carolina law provides that the adoptive parents have a legal status of the child and the adoption is closed or cannot be reversible.
Myth 5: Older Children or Children with Special Needs Are Harder to Adopt
Some people believe that older children or children with some sort of disability cannot be adopted easily since they may have difficulties bonding or being adjusted to a new family.
This belief makes many people expect that placement of these children in adoptive homes is a rare occurrence.
Reality
In South Carolina, there are so many families that are willing to adopt out-of-home children, especially older children and children with special needs.
These adoptions are backed by special programs and materials to help families and parents cope with the difficulties and pleasures of raising older children with special needs.
State programs and adoption advocates do not leave these children on the streets or with foster care parents but try by all means to have them placed with proper families for adoption.
Supporting information
South Carolina Department of Social Services has special programs for the purpose of adoption of older children and children with special needs.
Foster care adoptive parents may also be entitled to receive some form of financial support like adoption allowance and medical expenses for the child if she or he is one with a special need.
Also, the success stories have been shared by many adoptive families who have managed to build close relationships with the older kids and have been able to create healthy and supportive families.
Myth 6: Adoption is time-consuming and riddled with challenges.
Some of the common misconceptions include the belief that adoption takes a long time, and is a complicated process involving many laws.
This belief can deter prospective adoptive parents, and they will begin by thinking they will spend years in the adoption process before the child is finally given to them.
Reality
To some extent, the adoption process entails legal processes, but it is not overwhelming when one gets direction on what to do, and the time taken differs with the type of adoption.
There is a lot of information and support for families who want to adopt in South Carolina, and whether through private, foster care, or international adoption.
However, if the right support is provided, adoption should be able to be done within the right amount of time.
The adoption timeline in South Carolina differs based on the type of adoption:
Private adoptions
Private adoption can therefore take between six months and one year or even more depending on the match and court calendars among others.
Foster care adoptions
Foster care adoptions can be quicker sometimes if the child is already emancipated for adoption. These adoptions may take between 6 to 12 months after fulfilling the legal prerequisites have been met.
International adoptions
International adoptions are usually more time-consuming and can take as long as 18 months to 2 years because of the rules and regulations of the adoption process the laws of the United States and the laws of the foreign country.
Safeguard your Adoption Rights
At Max Hyde Law Firm, we offer the following services during adoption; Our adoption lawyers will make sure that all the legal formalities are fulfilled and will also deal with the papers and the court on your behalf.
Here, we offer information on the adoption process no matter if you are adopting a child through a private agency, through foster care, or even from another country.
It is our aim that the procedure should be as easy and trouble-free as possible whilst safeguarding your interests and obtaining the adoption. Call us now at (864) 804-6330 for a free consultation and let us assist you to grow your family today.
