Adoption FAQ

1. Am I too old to adopt?

For international adoptions, age requirements vary from country to country. See the individual country pages for more information. If you’re willing to be flexible about your child’s age and needs, then your age is less of a concern.

There are no age limits for U.S. adoptions, but you should be in good health, with a reasonable expectation that you can raise your child to adulthood. Every country requires that you submit medical information as part of your dossier.

2. Must I be married to adopt?

Some of the foreign countries we work with strongly prefer married couples as adoptive parents. However, most of them will also consider single women. See the individual country pages for more information.

For U.S. adoptions, WACAP does not stipulate a particular family structure; nor do we discriminate against applicants on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation. We do encourage you to put this information in your letter to your child’s birth parents, so that they can make an informed choice.

3. We live in an apartment, not a house; can we adopt?

There are no requirements for the size or style of your home, but it must be a safe place to raise a child. Your plan for the child’s living space will be part of your homestudy.

4. Must I be of a certain religion to adopt?

WACAP is a nonsectarian agency. We have no requirements about parents’ religious faith. However, we do respect the wishes of U.S. birth parents who want to choose a religious home for their child. If you do plan to raise your child in a particular religion, it’s appropriate to mention it in your birth parent letter.

5. Must I have a certain income level to adopt?

WACAP welcomes adoptive parents of all income levels. It isn’t a question of how much you earn, but of managing your income so that you can support another family member.

Your homestudy will include questions about your income, finances, and lifestyle. Guidelines vary, but all countries require verification of income and employment.

6. What about "open" adoptions?

WACAP pioneered the concept of open adoption in the 1970s. Some birth parents strongly prefer open adoption; to others, it’s not a concern. If you’re adopting a child from the United States, and you’re willing to keep in touch with the child’s birth parents, please mention it in your birth parent letter.