Who can adopt?
Expatriates and non-UK residents
Resident in the UK but not British
General information
Ask most people what their idea of adopters is and they see in their mind this happy smiley cornflake box couple, who appear young, middle class or well-off.
But the reality is very often different. Adopters don't just come in couples. Single people can adopt and as for salary, they can range from people on the minimum wage to millionaires.
Mention you're an adopter and people think you must be some kind of archangel but the truth is that those who become approved adopters are quite often no more virtuous than the next person.
What they must be is warm and patient with well-stocked reserves of energy, just like any other parent.
In this section, we hope to lift the lid on who can and cannot adopt in an effort to dispel some of the myths that can put people off the idea of adoption before they have even thought about it.
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I have to be below a certain age
Untrue.
While the youngest age at which people can adopt is 21, there is no upper limit. What matters to adoption agencies is matching the right child to the right family.
For instance it is unlikely they would allow a single woman in her 50s to adopt a baby. But many of the children adopted today are older children and so it is likely agencies would quite happily entertain the idea of an older adopter taking in an older child - and conversely would be unlikely to let a younger couple adopt an older child.
However, in reality, few people adopt children when they get beyond their mid-50s. Some agencies have a policy of allowing only a specified age gap between proposed adopters and adopted children.
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I have to be married
Untrue.
Single people, including single men, can adopt. Also couples in a permanent relationship but who are not married can adopt.
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I need to be wealthy
Untrue.
There are no set requirements for prospective adopters to be in a certain salary bracket. Neither do they have to own their own home or have achieved a certain standard of education.
For people on a low income, they may be entitled to allowances to meet some of the costs of caring for a child.
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I need to own my home
Untrue.
People in rented accommodation can adopt. The main requirement on housing is having enough room to accommodate a child which basically means they must have their own bedroom.
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I must have a clean criminal record
Untrue.
People with criminal convictions will be considered although, obviously much will depend on the type and circumstances of the offence, how long ago it was committed and what sort of life the person has led since. It is unlikely a speeding ticket dispensed 10 years ago, will bar you from adopting a child.
However, people with any offence against a child will not, for obvious reasons, be considered. People with violent offences will also find it harder to adopt.
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I can't adopt - I'm gay
Not true - it was always possible under the 1976 Adoption Act for a single person of any sexuality to adopt.
Moreover, changes in the law brought about by The Adoption and Children Act 2002 from December 30, 2005, mean that gay couples can now adopt jointly, whether or not they are civil registered.
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What if I have health problems or a disability?
Many adoption agencies will insist that you are in reasonably good mental and physical health. It is unlikely you will be approved if you have a life-threatening condition that may mean you will not be able to see the child through to adulthood.
The younger the child you want to adopt, the better health you will be expected to have.
Disabled people are not specifically prevented from becoming adopters as long as they can offer the right care and support to an adopted child. Obviously agencies have to consider how a disability will affect a person's ability to care for a child.
For more about adopting a child as a disabled person click here
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I am from an ethnic minority - does that make a difference?
It certainly can do - provided you can offer the right care and support for a child, it is likely that many agencies will welcome you with open arms.
There is a pressing need for more adopters from ethnic minorities. About 20 per cent of the children in care are from ethnic backgrounds.
While inter-racial adoption remains an option and does happen, adoption agencies prefer to match children to families with the same background.
As a result of this imbalance in numbers between adopters and children from ethnic backgrounds, many agencies may be a little more flexible for applicants from ethnic minorities.
I don't live in the UK - can I adopt a British child?
In order to adopt a British child, you must have had legal residency in the UK for at least a year.
This rule even applies to British citizens who may be working abroad for a few years before planning to return to the UK to settle permanently.
It also applies to residents of the Republic of Ireland despite the fact that in the British care system there are children with an Irish background who are desperate for adoptive families with a similar heritage.
The only exception to this rule is if a person is applying to adopt a relative or has a close connection with the child - for example the adopter is a close friend of birth family or a step-parent.
It is worth noting that as the law stands, once parents have officially adopted a child in this country, there is usually nothing that can legally prevent them from moving to live in another country.
However, for a child that may already have had a lot of upheaval in their short life, and who may be in contact with birth parents or siblings, parents should seriously consider what impact this move could have on the child before arranging it.
For ex-pats, the best hope of adopting is to do so in your country of residency - but be sure to find out what restrictions there may be in acquiring British citizenship for children you adopt in a foreign country because otherwise you may find it difficult to return to the UK.
We live in the UK but we are not British - can we adopt in the UK?
You have to have legal residency for at least a year before a UK adoption agency will consider assessing you.
Many agencies will want to feel that you intend to stay in the UK if you want to adopt a British child because often there may be contact issues for the child and their birth family to consider.
Depending on your cultural background, you may also find that even if you are approved to adopt, finding an agency prepared to place a child with you may prove difficult. This is because agencies like to match up children with adopters from a similar heritage. But don't despair, it may be harder but not impossible.
It may be more advantageous for people in this situation to consider international adoption - though it is obviously more expensive.
It is also worth noting that as the law stands, once parents have officially adopted a child in this country, there is usually nothing that can legally prevent them from moving to live in another country.
However, for a child that may already have had a lot of upheaval in their short life, and who may be in contact with birth parents or siblings, parents should seriously consider what impact this move could have on the child before arranging it.
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Conclusion
The truth is that all kinds of people can become adopters. There is simply no ideal type. Each agency will be looking for people from all kinds of backgrounds and with a variety of life experiences to meet the needs of the children in their care.
Your personal circumstances, may limit the sort of children who you will be approved to take on.
For further information, see a press release from BAAF here
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