Best Adoption Lawyers in West Columbia, SC

Once applicants have an approved adoption home study, they are able to be considered as the adoptive family for foster children who are legally free for adoption. However, there is no way to know exactly how long it will be before a family is matched with a child. There are many variables that must be considered, such as the age of a child a family will consider accepting, the special needs for a child that a family is willing to accept, the family composition that is best for a particular child, and the availability of children who are legally free for adoption at a given time.

There is no fee to adopt a foster child through the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS). Families are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining medical information or any repairs needed to address issues from home inspections. The agency has worked with many attorneys throughout the state who are willing to accept the reimbursement fee provided by SCDSS so that families do not have to pay for legal services.

Yes, children over the age of 18 are available for adoption. When a child turns 18, chooses to stay in foster care, and is still in school (high school, technical school, or college), they are still eligible for adoption services.

There are children available for adoption from birth up through the age of eighteen. However, due to the high number of applicants interested in adopting children under the age of five, these children are often not as readily available as older children.

As long as you have obtained an approved adoptive home study, you can be considered for a South Carolina child. Individual states may have additional requirements or a waiting period before your study can be released to another state, so it is best to check with your agency worker.