5 Important Things to Know About Adopting in the State of New Mexico

If you are considering adoption in the State of New Mexico, like every other state, there are laws regarding the adoption process. If you’re interested in adopting a child through an adoption agency in New Mexico, Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque is here to help.

1. Eligibility -- Who is eligible to adopt in New Mexico?

 

The requirements for adopting a child in the State of New Mexico, whether from an adoption agency or from the New Mexico Foster Care System are pretty much the same.

The simple short list of requirements for both an adoption agency and to be a foster parent are as follows; you must be a healthy, law-abiding citizen of the State of New Mexico. You should be at least 21 years old and need to be able to provide your adopted child with their own personal space.

You must be willing to undergo a series of home studies, to attend a variety of parenting classes, and most importantly be able to provide your adopted child with a safe, loving, and inclusive home.

2. International Adoptions -- Adopting a child from another country has other requirements to finalize your international adoption in New Mexico?

If you are considering adopting international child you must file and verify an adoption petition along with copies of the child’s passport and U.S. Visa. There are also other documents need to show child is legally free for adoption like a certificate from the U.S. Secretary of State that certifies whether the adoption is a convention adoption.

The adoptive parents must also submit an application for a birth certificate in the new name of the adopted child that shows the adoptive parents as the child’s parent.

3. Out-of-State Adoptions -- What should I expect when adopting a child from another state?

Any adoptions that are considered “interstate” are subject to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). The primary purpose of the ICPC is to ensure that children placed out-of-state are placed with care-givers who are safe, suitable and able to meet the child’s needs. The ICPC requires an assessment of these factors before a child is placed out-of-state.

As a legally binding agreement between all states, the ICPC ensures that children enjoy a uniform set of protections and benefits regardless of which state they are moving to or from.

4. Home Study Requirements -- What kind of home study, evaluation and post-placement requirements should you expect after your new adopted child has been placed with your family?

Prior to adoption in the state of New Mexico, anyone interested in adopting a child must successfully complete a home study.

The home study is an evaluation which assesses your ability to provide a stable, nurturing home for a child. There are many different things to expect during your home study. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Individual interviews with each prospective adoptive parents
• Joint interviews 
• Interviews with other family members 
• A discussion of parenting philosophies 
• Criminal record checks 
• Letters of reference 
• Current medical certificates 
• Fingerprinting and fingerprint analysis

You can expect the home study to include adoptive parents, their children, and other permanent residents of their home.

5. Adoption Expenses -- What adoption expenses can be paid by adoptive families in New Mexico?

Adoption expenses can be confusing. What can and can’t you pay for during the adoption process?

In New Mexico, potential adoptive parents may make payments for services relating to the adoption of a child to third-party vendors only when it is considered practical and these payments may include the cost of counseling services, medical, hospital, nursing, and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by the birth mother or the prospective adopted child.

 Adoptive parents can pay for living expenses of the birth mother and her child for a reasonable period of time before and after the birth and placement of the child in the adoptive home. They can also pay for legal services for a parent consenting to the adoption.

 

For more information about adoption, adoption agencies and adoption laws for the state of New Mexico, please contact Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque at (505) 814-9232.