We want to adopt but I got a DUI 5 years ago.?

Question

I'm specifically looking at international adoption. Will this be impossible? I had never gotten myself into trouble for anything before or have since then. Not that it excuses it, but the DUI happened when I was out celebrating my engagment.

Answer 1

Honestly - it could definitely be a problem. Specifically because 5 years is not all that long ago. I know of two people who were told by agencies they wouldn't work with them because of DUIs. In one case the DUI had happened 18 years ago. In most cases "no criminal background" means just that - none. And DUIs are looked at pretty severely.

The best thing to do would be to contact a few agencies that do international adoption and ask. You would have to be honest and up front - they'll find out anyway, so honesty is your only option.

Answer 2

you never know unless you try, the agency will obviously see that that's the only thing on your record

Answer 3

you will be fine

Answer 4

find out if the DUI will be a problem- probably not

since you have been clean for 5 years

Answer 5

Your chances of adoption are certainly restricted and should be. This is a red flag that you might have a drinking problem.  Expect it to be discussed. Had the DUI been 10 years ago, it would be less of a problem.

[edited to add] I'm looking at perhaps adopting from the USSR.  ANY DUI will eliminate your as a prospective adoptive parent.

Answer 6

I highly doubt this will be a problem ... even if you were adopting here. They aren't gonna say "OMG DUI you'll be a bad parent".

Answer 7

Jeepers...certainly don't want your record to have anything to do with a Character Assessment, eh?  

I've celebrated LOTS of things--even my own engagement--over the years but was always able to find a designated driver, a taxi, or simply walk home....that is called Good Judgment or Common Sense.

Answer 8

it doesn't really matter but consider adopting from the united states.

Answer 9

they will take that into account, along with the fact that your record is otherwise clean. it will depend on the agency you go through and the country you're working with, and what their requirements for adoptive parents are. you may have to wait a few more years, you might not. as long as the rest of the factors they consider in your homestudy look good, there probably wont be an issue. all you can do is try. and if you pray,pray.

Answer 10

It really depends on where you get your homestudy done, who does it, agency rules etc. etc.

I had had trouble 14 years prior to adopting my children and it was a HUGE issue during my homestudy, mostly because in my mind the woman doing hte homestudy was a bit of a fuddy duddy.  I mean really, 14 years ago I had some depression problems because a boy didn't love me when i was 19....and it was a problem even todya.  I had to go over her head and send my resume to her boss, my resume that showed me as a successful foster parent, director of big sister and many other child and stressful areas in the past 14 years that demonstrated no longer depressed.  

So really depends on who is doing it, just be honest and if there is a sniff of problems remember you can always talk to someone higher up, you may just have to push harder.

Best of luck!

Answer 11

I beg to differ with all of the posters who say that a DUI will not be a problem when adopting internationally.

It will disqualify you from most of the programs, as one of the restrictions is you cannot have a criminal record EVER for ANYTHING.

Some agencies may encourage you to seek a pardon, which are sometimes granted for smaller offenses like first-time DUI's, but even then 5 years will not be seen as good enough. Many require at least 10.

You will be disqualified from China because under the new rules, a pardon won't cut it. You can't have a criminal record EVER.

When you research agencies, their sites will have a detailed outline about each country and what their requirements are. Before you start anything, I would find out from the agencies whether or not you will be approved.

Also, keep in mind that even if your province or state does not consider your 5 year DUI a huge deal and goes ahead and approves you, that does not mean that the country you wish to adopt from will.

There have been a number of people who had infractions that are years passed but have been disqualified in the review stage.

I'm sorry that your dreams of adopting internationally may be dashed because of a moment of foolishness, but it does serve a lesson that what we do in the spirit of the moment has far reaching consequences.

Answer 12

it may or may not hurt. Different countries and agencies have their own rules. Adopting within your country might be easier. It all depends on what you have done with your life since the incident and they may have you speak with an alcohol counselor.

Answer 13

I am an adoptive mother of 2 beautiful American children. I fostered first and was very fortunate to have been blessed in adopting both my children My son I had from birth and my daughter since she was 7 months old.

I know that I had to have back ground checks and all of that I really don't think that in a local adoption it would be relevant, but I do have a friend who adopted a Korean baby last summer and I think they are a lot more discriminate due to the amount of people that adopt over seas versus in the United States.

I did find this

o Criminal record: There may be no criminal record. (Further details have not been provided.)

Answer 14

It should not be a problem.  You have to make sure that you are honest with the agency.  If you do not tell them and it turns up it will be bad.  You will tell them during the application stage and they will visit the issue in the home study stage to show how you have come beyond that issue.  It may or may not show up on the criminal report.  You could have a report ran before applying just to see what comes back.