How long does it take to adopt?

Adopting a child in Pennsylvania can take several months to complete, depending on the type of adoption being pursued. An independent adoption can take anywhere from four to six months to finalize. This type of adoption is typically used when both the adoptive parents and the birth parents are known and a court has approved the adoption. A private agency adoption requires the adoptive parents to be pre-approved by an agency. Once the approval is attained, it can take anywhere from two to twelve months from the initial application to the finalization of the adoption. An international adoption requires the adoptive parents to complete additional paperwork and may take up to twenty-four months to complete. Foster care adoption can also take up to twenty-four months to complete, as there are several domestic and international laws that must be taken into consideration when dealing with foster care adoption. Ultimately, every adoption is different and the length of time it takes to adopt will depend on the individual case.

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