Shore Adoption Services, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What type of adoptions are there and how do they compare to one another?
Where do we start?
When should a home study begin and what does the home study entail?
What are the costs of adopting a child?
Will the child be covered by my health insurance?
Is Shore Adoption with HOPE able to provide adoption services for out-of-state residents?

Domestic Questions

What are the advantages of adopting domestically?
What are the disadvantages of adopting domestically?
When can we expect placement of an adoptive child in our home?
What are the legal timeframes for parental placements?

International Questions

What are the advantages of adopting internationally?
What are the disadvantages of adopting internationally?
What is a "source agency"?
Which countries have adoption programs?
What are the requirements?
Is travel necessary?
How does the homestudy process work?
How does the child referral process work?

Military Questions

Will our mobile lifestyle allow us to be considered for adoption?
I am only stationed here for three years. Will we be able to adopt in that amount of time?
Can I adopt if I have sea duty or am deployed?
How does the military support adoption?

(Q) What type of adoptions are there and how do they compare to one another?

(A.) There are four types of adoptions in Virginia: parental placement, international adoption, agency placement (public agency) and agency placement (private agency). You decide which is right for you and best fits your individual circumstances.

Families may:

Plan to adopt an infant of similar race/ethnicity/cultural heritage
Plan to adopt an older child through social services
Plan to adopt a child already known to you
Plan to adopt a relative
Plan to adopt from another country

Parental Placement is when the adoptive parents and birth parents seek each other out. By law, identifying information is shared. It is for this reason that this is sometimes called "Open Adoption". However, any decision to maintain contact after the adoption occurs is totally the legal decision of the adoptive parents. There are fees charged for the homestudy, counseling time, and legal representation. These children are typically newborns directly from the hospital or slightly older infants and toddlers.

International adoptions are facilitated by specialized agencies and organizations. The agency or their representative can match the child with the adoptive parents or, in some specific countries, families are able to review several profiles and choose the child themselves. Typically, by its nature, an international adoption is a closed adoption, and there is limited information about the child available. There are fees charged for the homestudy, country fees, and legal representation. These children are typically ages toddler and older.

Agency placement (public agency) is typically a closed adoption. The agency (usually a department of social services) matches the child to the adoptive parents and sometimes limited family information is shared depending on why the child was removed from their biological family. The agency supervises the placement and pays most of the fees. These children are typically school age and older.

Agency placement (private agency) can be open or closed placements depending on the requests of the birth and adoptive parents. Each agency works differently and some create matches themselves and others allow the birth parents to make the decision. The agency retains legal custody of the child until the adoption is finalized. The adoptive family may receive the child directly from the hospital or may wait until the birth mother has completed her consent to the adoption. There are fees charged for the home study, counseling, legal representation, plus an additional placement fee when a child is placed in a home.

At Shore Adoption with HOPE, we specialize in parental placements and can assist families with international adoptions, agency placements, family adoptions, and social services placements.
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(Q.) Where do we start?

(A.) The adoption process begins with a confidential, one on one orientation at Shore Adoption with HOPE, with one of our adoption experts. This meeting is free and holds no obligation to our agency. We would like to get an idea of where you are in the process and how we can assist you best. Because you are creating your own adoption plan, you decide how much additional support you want from us. Most clients who are new to adoption feel more confident when they have ongoing support and professional guidance.
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(Q.) When should a home study begin and what does the home study entail?

(A.) A home study should begin as soon as you have made the decision to pursue adoption. You cannot gain legal custody until you have completed the home study.

Required by law, a home study must be done by a state designated or licensed agency, like Shore Adoption with HOPE. A home study is comprised of: a series of interviews, one of which will be in your home; completion of an autobiography; background checks; submission and review of other required paperwork. The goal of the home study is to confirm that you are morally, financially, emotionally, and physically able to parent a child to adulthood.
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(Q.) What are the costs of adopting a child?

(A.) The cost can range anywhere from $8,000 to over $60,000 depending on the type of adoption you choose. International adoptions are usually the most expensive because there can be several agencies involved, as well as international travel expenses to the country of the child's birth and subsequent care. Attorney fees are additional and also vary depending on the type of adoption. We recommend using an attorney who is well versed in adoption law and have several local lawyers who we can refer clients to.

Many employers offer adoption reimbursement programs for their employees including employees of the state and military personnel. There is also an income tax credit available in the amount of approximately $13,000 which is available to most families that apply. It can be used over several years to offset the cost of adoption. Many of our families have gotten creative in finding ways to offset their costs including raffles, bake sales, car washes, and yard sales.
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(Q.) Will the child be covered by my health insurance?

(A.) Under most major medical policies (including the military) the child will be covered at the time of birth or placement with the family.
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(Q.) Is Shore Adoption with HOPE able to provide adoption services for out-of-state residents?

(A.) Shore Adoption with HOPE is only licensed to complete homestudies, a requirement for adopting a child, for residents of Virginia.
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Domestic Questions

(Q.) What are the advantages of adopting domestically?

(A.) Adoptive parents often get more background information on the birth parents and sometimes have the chance to continue contact with the birth parents if they are comfortable with it. The children available are often infants but older children are available through a social services placement. The costs of domestic adoption are often much less than international, typically $8,000-$12,000 for a parental placement adoption and $15,000-$35,000 for an agency placement. Also, the option to adopt a child who is racially or ethnically similar to the family is greater with domestic adoption.
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(Q.) What are the disadvantages of adopting domestically?

(A.) Some families may not be comfortable with the idea of having ongoing contact with the birth parents or are afraid of the birth parent changing their mind within the waiting period following the consent to adoption. This is typically the biggest concern of families adopting domestically.
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(Q.) When can we expect placement of an adoptive child in our home?

(A.) Placement may occur anywhere from one day to two years from the time you begin the process. At Shore Adoption with HOPE, our average length of time for a placement is approximately 12-24 months for the parental placement of a Caucasian newborn. Wait times for bi-racial or other minority children may be shorter depending on the type of child that you are open to adopting. The more types of placement a family is open to considering the shorter the wait could be (i.e. race, gender, potential drug or alcohol exposure, ongoing contact with the birth family, etc).
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(Q.) What are the legal timeframes for parental placements?

(A.) The birth parent(s) can go to court anytime after the child is three (3) days old. In court, birth parent(s) consent to the adoption. Then follows an additional seven (7) days in which the birth parent can change their mind. If the adoptive parents hire separate legal counsel for the birth mother then she can waive this 7 day waiting period, thus making her consent irrevocable from that day in court. Shore Adoption with HOPE encourages birth parents to seek counseling before the birth of the child so that they know what to expect after consent is given. Often, the birth father can terminate his rights without going to court.

An interlocutory order is then entered by the attorney’s office and a six month supervisory period is started. Within these six months three visits are done by an agency to ensure that the family and the child are coping with the change well. Once these visits are completed the agency recommends that the adoption be finalized by the court and a final order is entered. Once the final order is given the family may request an amended birth certificate with the adoptive parents’ names and change the child’s name if necessary.
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International Questions

(Q.) What are the advantages of adopting internationally?

(A.) There are no legal risks in terms of worrying about a birth mother trying to reclaim her child since children are already legally free for adoption before they can be matched with a family. This puts many families at ease. The waiting time for a child can be much more predictable since countries dictate how the process works. Also, the possibility of adopting more than one child at a time is higher since there are many sibling groups available.
[top]

(Q.) What are the disadvantages of adopting internationally?

(A.) Families may get little or no medical or family history on the birth family, and although medical information is provided on the child, it can sometimes be incomplete or unreliable. Most of the children available for international adoption are older and therefore may have some emotional issues depending on the care they have received in the past. Depending on the country, the age range can be from toddler age all the way up to preteen. Some countries will change their adoption program without notice, leaving families scrambling to meet new requirements and timelines. The higher cost, typically between $20,000-$60,000, and sometime long travel requirements can also be discouraging to some families.
[top]

(Q.) What is a "source agency"?

(A.) A source agency is the adoption agency that works directly with foreign countries. Families are able to work with any source agency in the United States. You are able to have these agencies facilitate the adoption but you do need a local agency to complete your homestudy and post placement supervision. Part of your orientation process with Shore Adoption with HOPE can be to choose a reputable source agency to work with in the future. Each source agency works with different countries so if you are interested in a specific country you will have to check which agencies have contacts there. At no time will families need to travel to the source agency.
[top]

(Q.) Which countries have adoption programs?

(A.) The most popular programs of the last 5 years are China, Russia, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Phillipines, and Korea. Other countries that have programs are Rwanda, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Columbia, Chile, and Mexico. Country availability can fluctuate so please contact your source agency to verify that a country you are interested in is still available.
[top]

(Q.) What are the requirements?

(A.) All countries have their own requirements for prospective adoptive families. Some are based on income, some on age, but many do allow single parents to adopt. Your source agency will be able to relay specific information about country requirements.
[top]

(Q.) Is travel necessary?

(A.) In most cases, yes. Depending on the country, families can expect their stay in the country to be from one week to six weeks and may be required to make multiple trips. The average stay is two to three weeks.
[top]

(Q.) How does the homestudy process work?

(A.) First, a family must begin a home study. You will also gather documents that your source agency requires, such as birth certificates and a marriage license. Once your home study is complete and all of your documents have been gathered, you will submit your paperwork (referred to as a dossier) to your source agency and immigration. Shore Adoption with HOPE will help guide you through this paperwork maze, which can sometimes be overwhelming.
[top]

(Q.) How does the child referral process work?

(A.) Once your source agency has your dossier, you will be matched with a child. This process can be as short as 6 weeks and as long as 48 months, depending on the country. You will receive a picture of the child, a medical history, and sometimes even a video. Shore Adoption with HOPE highly recommends that you send this information to a reputable medical doctor who has experience in assessing internationally adopted children. They can evaluate your referral and give you their opinion as to the health of your referred child. Once you accept a referral, you can expect to travel within two months to meet and adopt your child. Some countries, also allow what are called private adoptions. These adoptions are when an adoptive family travels to the country and are given several profiles of children to consider. They are able to review the profiles and observe the children in their orphanage setting. Then the family is able to choose the child that best suits their family makeup. A second trip is usually planned for several weeks later the complete the legal adoption in the country.
[top]

Military Questions

(Q.) Will our mobile lifestyle allow us to be considered for adoption?

(A.) YES! Homestudies can be transferred to new agencies when you relocate and the military offers extra reimbursements to families who adopt.
[top]

(Q.) I am only stationed here for three years. Will we be able to adopt in that amount of time?

(A.) If you choose parental placement adoption or international adoption, most adoptions occur within two years. If for some reason it does not, you do have the option of transferring your case to another agency in your new area to complete the adoption. Additional fees may apply at the new agency.
[top]

(Q.) Can I adopt if I have sea duty or am deployed?

(A.) Shore Adoption with HOPE recognizes and supports the need to serve your country, and is flexible to accommodate this reality. Both spouses must be present for certain events like the homestudy and court hearing but please discuss this with your case worker to ensure that you understand any complications that may arise with this.
[top]

(Q.) How does the military support adoption?

(A.) There is a parental leave policy for which you may qualify when your child arrives. The military also has a partial reimbursement program for $2,000 toward adoption expenses.
[top]


	Frequently Asked Questions General Questions What type of adoptions are there and how do they compare to one another? Where do we start? When should a home study begin and what does the home study entail? What are the costs of adopting a child? Will the child be covered by my health insurance? Is Shore Adoption with HOPE able to provide adoption services for out-of-state residents? Domestic Questions What are the advantages of adopting domestically? What are the disadvantages of adopting domestically? When can we expect placement of an adoptive child in our home? What are the legal timeframes for parental placements? International Questions What are the advantages of adopting internationally? What are the disadvantages of adopting internationally? What is a "source agency"? Which countries have adoption programs? What are the requirements? Is travel necessary? How does the homestudy process work? How does the child referral process work? Military Questions Will our mobile lifestyle allow us to be considered for adoption? I am only stationed here for three years. Will we be able to adopt in that amount of time? Can I adopt if I have sea duty or am deployed? How does the military support adoption? (Q) What type of adoptions are there and how do they compare to one another? (A.) There are four types of adoptions in Virginia: parental placement, international adoption, agency placement (public agency) and agency placement (private agency). You decide which is right for you and best fits your individual circumstances. Families may: Plan to adopt an infant of similar race/ethnicity/cultural heritage Plan to adopt an older child through social services Plan to adopt a child already known to you Plan to adopt a relative Plan to adopt from another country Parental Placement is when the adoptive parents and birth parents seek each other out. By law, identifying information is shared. It is for this reason that this is sometimes called "Open Adoption". However, any decision to maintain contact after the adoption occurs is totally the legal decision of the adoptive parents. There are fees charged for the homestudy, counseling time, and legal representation. These children are typically newborns directly from the hospital or slightly older infants and toddlers. International adoptions are facilitated by specialized agencies and organizations. The agency or their representative can match the child with the adoptive parents or, in some specific countries, families are able to review several profiles and choose the child themselves. Typically, by its nature, an international adoption is a closed adoption, and there is limited information about the child available. There are fees charged for the homestudy, country fees, and legal representation. These children are typically ages toddler and older. Agency placement (public agency) is typically a closed adoption. The agency (usually a department of social services) matches the child to the adoptive parents and sometimes limited family information is shared depending on why the child was removed from their biological family. The agency supervises the placement and pays most of the fees. These children are typically school age and older. Agency placement (private agency) can be open or closed placements depending on the requests of the birth and adoptive parents. Each agency works differently and some create matches themselves and others allow the birth parents to make the decision. The agency retains legal custody of the child until the adoption is finalized. The adoptive family may receive the child directly from the hospital or may wait until the birth mother has completed her consent to the adoption. There are fees charged for the home study, counseling, legal representation, plus an additional placement fee when a child is placed in a home. At Shore Adoption with HOPE, we specialize in parental placements and can assist families with international adoptions, agency placements, family adoptions, and social services placements. [top] (Q.) Where do we start? (A.) The adoption process begins with a confidential, one on one orientation at Shore Adoption with HOPE, with one of our adoption experts. This meeting is free and holds no obligation to our agency. We would like to get an idea of where you are in the process and how we can assist you best. Because you are creating your own adoption plan, you decide how much additional support you want from us. Most clients who are new to adoption feel more confident when they have ongoing support and professional guidance. [top] (Q.) When should a home study begin and what does the home study entail? (A.) A home study should begin as soon as you have made the decision to pursue adoption. You cannot gain legal custody until you have completed the home study. Required by law, a home study must be done by a state designated or licensed agency, like Shore Adoption with HOPE. A home study is comprised of: a series of interviews, one of which will be in your home; completion of an autobiography; background checks; submission and review of other required paperwork. The goal of the home study is to confirm that you are morally, financially, emotionally, and physically able to parent a child to adulthood. [top] (Q.) What are the costs of adopting a child? (A.) The cost can range anywhere from $8,000 to over $60,000 depending on the type of adoption you choose. International adoptions are usually the most expensive because there can be several agencies involved, as well as international travel expenses to the country of the child's birth and subsequent care. Attorney fees are additional and also vary depending on the type of adoption. We recommend using an attorney who is well versed in adoption law and have several local lawyers who we can refer clients to. Many employers offer adoption reimbursement programs for their employees including employees of the state and military personnel. There is also an income tax credit available in the amount of approximately $13,000 which is available to most families that apply. It can be used over several years to offset the cost of adoption. Many of our families have gotten creative in finding ways to offset their costs including raffles, bake sales, car washes, and yard sales. [top] (Q.) Will the child be covered by my health insurance? (A.) Under most major medical policies (including the military) the child will be covered at the time of birth or placement with the family. [top] (Q.) Is Shore Adoption with HOPE able to provide adoption services for out-of-state residents? (A.) Shore Adoption with HOPE is only licensed to complete homestudies, a requirement for adopting a child, for residents of Virginia. [top] Domestic Questions (Q.) What are the advantages of adopting domestically? (A.) Adoptive parents often get more background information on the birth parents and sometimes have the chance to continue contact with the birth parents if they are comfortable with it. The children available are often infants but older children are available through a social services placement. The costs of domestic adoption are often much less than international, typically $8,000-$12,000 for a parental placement adoption and $15,000-$35,000 for an agency placement. Also, the option to adopt a child who is racially or ethnically similar to the family is greater with domestic adoption. [top] (Q.) What are the disadvantages of adopting domestically? (A.) Some families may not be comfortable with the idea of having ongoing contact with the birth parents or are afraid of the birth parent changing their mind within the waiting period following the consent to adoption. This is typically the biggest concern of families adopting domestically. [top] (Q.) When can we expect placement of an adoptive child in our home? (A.) Placement may occur anywhere from one day to two years from the time you begin the process. At Shore Adoption with HOPE, our average length of time for a placement is approximately 12-24 months for the parental placement of a Caucasian newborn. Wait times for bi-racial or other minority children may be shorter depending on the type of child that you are open to adopting. The more types of placement a family is open to considering the shorter the wait could be (i.e. race, gender, potential drug or alcohol exposure, ongoing contact with the birth family, etc). [top] (Q.) What are the legal timeframes for parental placements? (A.) The birth parent(s) can go to court anytime after the child is three (3) days old. In court, birth parent(s) consent to the adoption. Then follows an additional seven (7) days in which the birth parent can change their mind. If the adoptive parents hire separate legal counsel for the birth mother then she can waive this 7 day waiting period, thus making her consent irrevocable from that day in court. Shore Adoption with HOPE encourages birth parents to seek counseling before the birth of the child so that they know what to expect after consent is given. Often, the birth father can terminate his rights without going to court. An interlocutory order is then entered by the attorney’s office and a six month supervisory period is started. Within these six months three visits are done by an agency to ensure that the family and the child are coping with the change well. Once these visits are completed the agency recommends that the adoption be finalized by the court and a final order is entered. Once the final order is given the family may request an amended birth certificate with the adoptive parents’ names and change the child’s name if necessary. [top] International Questions (Q.) What are the advantages of adopting internationally? (A.) There are no legal risks in terms of worrying about a birth mother trying to reclaim her child since children are already legally free for adoption before they can be matched with a family. This puts many families at ease. The waiting time for a child can be much more predictable since countries dictate how the process works. Also, the possibility of adopting more than one child at a time is higher since there are many sibling groups available. [top] (Q.) What are the disadvantages of adopting internationally? (A.) Families may get little or no medical or family history on the birth family, and although medical information is provided on the child, it can sometimes be incomplete or unreliable. Most of the children available for international adoption are older and therefore may have some emotional issues depending on the care they have received in the past. Depending on the country, the age range can be from toddler age all the way up to preteen. Some countries will change their adoption program without notice, leaving families scrambling to meet new requirements and timelines. The higher cost, typically between $20,000-$60,000, and sometime long travel requirements can also be discouraging to some families. [top] (Q.) What is a "source agency"? (A.) A source agency is the adoption agency that works directly with foreign countries. Families are able to work with any source agency in the United States. You are able to have these agencies facilitate the adoption but you do need a local agency to complete your homestudy and post placement supervision. Part of your orientation process with Shore Adoption with HOPE can be to choose a reputable source agency to work with in the future. Each source agency works with different countries so if you are interested in a specific country you will have to check which agencies have contacts there. At no time will families need to travel to the source agency. [top] (Q.) Which countries have adoption programs? (A.) The most popular programs of the last 5 years are China, Russia, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Phillipines, and Korea. Other countries that have programs are Rwanda, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Columbia, Chile, and Mexico. Country availability can fluctuate so please contact your source agency to verify that a country you are interested in is still available. [top] (Q.) What are the requirements? (A.) All countries have their own requirements for prospective adoptive families. Some are based on income, some on age, but many do allow single parents to adopt. Your source agency will be able to relay specific information about country requirements. [top] (Q.) Is travel necessary? (A.) In most cases, yes. Depending on the country, families can expect their stay in the country to be from one week to six weeks and may be required to make multiple trips. The average stay is two to three weeks. [top] (Q.) How does the homestudy process work? (A.) First, a family must begin a home study. You will also gather documents that your source agency requires, such as birth certificates and a marriage license. Once your home study is complete and all of your documents have been gathered, you will submit your paperwork (referred to as a dossier) to your source agency and immigration. Shore Adoption with HOPE will help guide you through this paperwork maze, which can sometimes be overwhelming. [top] (Q.) How does the child referral process work? (A.) Once your source agency has your dossier, you will be matched with a child. This process can be as short as 6 weeks and as long as 48 months, depending on the country. You will receive a picture of the child, a medical history, and sometimes even a video. Shore Adoption with HOPE highly recommends that you send this information to a reputable medical doctor who has experience in assessing internationally adopted children. They can evaluate your referral and give you their opinion as to the health of your referred child. Once you accept a referral, you can expect to travel within two months to meet and adopt your child. Some countries, also allow what are called private adoptions. These adoptions are when an adoptive family travels to the country and are given several profiles of children to consider. They are able to review the profiles and observe the children in their orphanage setting. Then the family is able to choose the child that best suits their family makeup. A second trip is usually planned for several weeks later the complete the legal adoption in the country. [top] Military Questions (Q.) Will our mobile lifestyle allow us to be considered for adoption? (A.) YES! Homestudies can be transferred to new agencies when you relocate and the military offers extra reimbursements to families who adopt. [top] (Q.) I am only stationed here for three years. Will we be able to adopt in that amount of time? (A.) If you choose parental placement adoption or international adoption, most adoptions occur within two years. If for some reason it does not, you do have the option of transferring your case to another agency in your new area to complete the adoption. Additional fees may apply at the new agency. [top] (Q.) Can I adopt if I have sea duty or am deployed? (A.) Shore Adoption with HOPE recognizes and supports the need to serve your country, and is flexible to accommodate this reality. Both spouses must be present for certain events like the homestudy and court hearing but please discuss this with your case worker to ensure that you understand any complications that may arise with this. [top] (Q.) How does the military support adoption? (A.) There is a parental leave policy for which you may qualify when your child arrives. The military also has a partial reimbursement program for $2,000 toward adoption expenses. [top]