If you live in Tennessee and are considering adopting a child currently under the guardianship of the state, you may understandably have questions about the process involved in doing so. At the Law Office of Meghan A. Bodie, we have a comprehensive understanding of how adoption works in the state, and we have helped many prospective parents navigate the sometimes-complicated process of adopting a child.
If you are considering opening up your home to a child currently in the state’s care, know that your odds of being able to do so improve considerably if you are already a foster parent. Per the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, about 80 percent of the state’s adoptable children ultimately end up staying permanently in the homes of the parents who foster them, so you are more likely to get the first chance at adopting a child if he or she is already residing in your home.
Becoming a foster parent may help you find an adoptable child and give you a better chance at keeping that child in your care on a permanent basis. However, you must meet additional criteria in order for the state to consider making you an adoptive parent. While it does not matter if you have a spouse or other children, or whether you own or rent your home, you must be able to work full-time in order to maintain eligibility as a foster parent.
Additionally, you must be a legal Tennessee resident, at least 21 years of age, and you must be able to demonstrate your ability to meet the emotional and financial demands of your family. More about Tennessee’s adoption process is available on our web page.