Adoption and the creation of a new family may be a lone bright spot in the realm of family law. Domestic adoption though (adoption within the borders of the United States), is not necessarily a walk in the park. The bureaucratic and delicate nature of administering an adoption of American children to American adults is certainly a process. But when you take that process and move the adoption attempt overseas, significantly more issues can arise.
An American’s exposure to children in developing countries is horrific. Television, commercials in particular, tell us tales of nations full of malnourished and dust-caked children — images that are entirely unforgettable. Associated with these horrific images is the celebrity humanitarian, either beseeching us to give fifty cents a day, or in the case of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, just outright adopting children. Cambodia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia: each of the adopted Jolie-Pitt children come from a corner of the world where extreme abject poverty is all their former communities know. There is no middle class, or even a working class; just poverty. Imagine this fairy tale scenario: a child is plucked from bowels of hardship, famine, and starvation and tossed into a world of wealth by two of the world’s most famous movie stars. One might as well fly a spaceship to Saturn.
As cynical as modern American society can be, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are at the very least providing their adoptive children with life’s basic necessities (and, obviously, all the marvelous earthly pleasures that wealth can bring). And this honor of performing, perhaps, the most humanitarian enterprise one can engage, points to a possible reason why Americans do adopt children overseas. Either way or for whatever reason, overseas adoption is difficult.
Hague or Non-Hague (Orphan) Adoption
Families (or individuals) looking to adopt children from overseas should know that doing so will require working with the federal government, Homeland Security and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Also, the United States is party to an agreement, the Hague Adoption Process, with other member countries about the process of the adopting children from these countries. With the Hague Process, potential adoptive parents will have to follow six steps to get their adoption approved. The Non-Hague Process does not have the same requirements, but this does not mean that the process is not as restrictive or difficult.
Fair Warning Regarding Overseas Adoption
Whether you adopt via the Hague or Non-Hague Process, other issues do arise with overseas adoption. Perhaps the most troubling is coercion and abduction to remove children from their birth families. Even with the Hague protocols, there are cases where children were forcibly removed or where orphans were “manufactured.” Other concerns of parents regarding adopted children from overseas range from serious topics like communicable diseases to questions regarding how to acquire a Social Security number for the newest member of the family.
Contact an Experienced Adoption and Family Law Attorney
Even though you may not be looking overseas to enlarge your family, you will need an experienced family law attorney to guide you through the process. Danville family lawyer, Christopher Arrington, will be able to give you the guidance you will need. Call today for a consultation and to answer any questions you may have.