My husband and I are starting the process of adopting from Mexico. Any tips?

Question

We are getting ready to have our home study done and the agency that we are using is asking us for a financial statement. I am uncomfortable with revealing that much personal information. Why do they need to know our net worth to approve us for an adoption? Is a list of our monthly expenses compared to our monthly income not enough? That along with the questionaire makes me feel as if my privacy is being invaded and just because we want to adopt it should be ok , is that wrong? Do I just need to get used to the loss of privacy because we want to adopt?

Answer 1

They need to know your networth, basically because they need to know if you are fully qualified to afford a chils. Well, it's not that it isn't enough, it is just to make sure that you have enough money to give all that you can to the new child. I understand how you feel, and I don't blame you for being uncomfortable. But, a new child in you life requires YOU being ready. The agency wants to be sure that the family that the child is going into is a great one. After this, you will have the same privacy. After this, the child is yours! No questions asked! Don't feel bad, I'm sure you will be a wonderful parent!

Answer 2

I know what you mean about feeling like you are under scrutiny during the adoption process.  But I hope that the things we as adoptive parents must go through helps to insure that children are adopted by loving stable homes.  If agencies did not do this type of research, children would be at risk to be adopted by people who could not provide for them or who might abuse them.  I want to believe that the enormous costs of adoption as well as the loss of privacy during the process is to help protect our children.  The good news is that typically once an adoption is finalized, you can just live as a happy family with the loss of privacy behind you.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Something to remember about the homestudy process is that your agency is responsible for following the laws of your state, the USCIS, the Hague convention, and Mexico.  Even though your HS agency did not write the laws, they are responsible for helping your family comply with them.  The end goal of a HS is to assess your family on many different levels to explain your readiness to adopt.

My guess about the financial statement is to verify that you have savings beyond your monthly budget.  They are looking to see if you are able to plan for your family's future needs (retirement, college, emergency fund) while maintaining your current lifestyle.  It's more about proportions than numbers.  Families that my agency works with are asked to submit a financial worksheet (includes monthly budgets and current account balances), their W2s, and an employment verification.

Yes, you will be asked a lot of personal, invasive questions, but if you weren't, it wouldn't be a very thorough report.  You hired the agency to write a comprehensive study and they are asking you for input.  Please keep an open mind about the home study process, and make your social worker your ally.  He/She has likely 'knows the ropes' and will guide you if you let them.

Answer 4

we  adopted a son and it was something we have never regeted. BUT why Mexico?? with so many kids in the U S?? we went to a lawyer and he refered us to another one that handled cases where a young girl was pregnet, if it was a girl we was not to get her but if a boy we would, was not any problems at all with doing that way, after a year we went to court and maded it legal, we DIDNOT go though a agency that sucks up your money. Good luck

Answer 5

When you choose to adopt, you basically open up your entire lives to the agency, which is why it's important to get one you trust. They look into your financial situation to see what kind of debt you have, and make sure that you can financially provide for the child. I know you feel like it's an invasion of privacy, and in a way it is, but the agencies job is to make sure the child is going to the best possible home. In order to do that, they have to look into your marriage, your financial situation, and your home.

If you feel uncomfortable in your current agency, I would change. It's important for your husband and you to feel comfortable, and to be able to trust the agency you choose. Just know though, that ALL agencies, if they aren't scams, will ask for some type of financial background.