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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this agency compliant with Hague regulations for international adoptions?
Yes, Nathanson Adoption Services of North Carolina is a non-profit agency. We also carry $1 million in liability insurance, and we are licensed by the State of North Carolina. We are Supervised Providers, under Hague regulations, for many child-placing agencies throughout the country.
Feel free to have your child-placing agency contact us to establish this "Supervised Provider" relationship.
- Do I need a high income to adopt?
No, you only need to demonstrate that you can adequately support a child.
- Do I have to own my own home?
No, families who live in rental homes, apartments, modular homes, or other forms of housing are frequently approved.
- What about “non-traditional families” or single-parent families, can we still adopt?
Yes, at Nathanson Adoption Services, we do not require you to be a traditional "mother/ father" family. We work with
all people who wish to adopt. We look for people who have a love of children, a strong desire to become a parent, and
the ability to care for and provide a stable home for a child.
- I am disabled, can I still adopt?
We have a few families where one parent is disabled who have successfully completed adoptions. A situation such as this
one needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis.
- Are there age restrictions?
No, for an approved home study, there are no definite age restrictions for adoption. However, some child placement programs
do have age restrictions. We will work with you to find the program that best suits your situation.
- I have a criminal record, will I qualify to adopt?
Possibly. You will be required to provide an explanation and documentation of your record to your home study social worker
and it will be evaluated on a case by case basis. We have many clients who have made mistakes in the past and are now
proud adoptive parents.
- I heard adoption is expensive, is that true?
The cost of adopting a child varies greatly. An international adoption or private agency adoption can cost between
$10,000 and $30,000. Tax credits up to $10,000 are currently available to adoptive parents. In addition, many employers
offer reimbursement of adoption expenses to their employees.
- Both my spouse and I work, does one of us have to quit and stay home?
No, you will be asked about your child-care plans during the home study, but there is not one "correct answer". Many of
our families consist of two working parents.
- We have a questionable family history, will we be able to adopt?
Possibly, as each case is evaluated on its own merits. It is important to be open and honest with your social worker
about problems your family may have had, whether it is substance abuse, criminal history, financial losses or marital problems.
We do not judge people for previous difficulties. Rather, we applaud them for working through their problems and
respect those who have overcome difficult obstacles.
- Can you help me with the CIS (Immigration) process for an international adoption?
Yes, we can help you fill out the I-600A form, and instruct you about the specific requirements and procedures of the
Charlotte CIS office. We can also help with all subsequent CIS issues. Nathanson Adoption Services is proud of our
excellent relationship with the CIS office in Charlotte and we keep informed of all changes in the adjudication process.
- Can you help me with the North Carolina Department of Social Services agencies involved
in a domestic adoption?
Yes, we communicate frequently and directly with the Office of Interstate Compact in Raleigh concerning our families
who are adopting from other states. Nathanson Adoption Services is proud of our excellent reputation with State
agencies, as a responsive, professional home study agency.
- We know we want to adopt, but haven't decided on the type of adoption, nor have we
selected a child placing agency. Can you help to guide us in these areas?
Yes, during the course of the home study, we can advise you about your various adoption options, recommend child-placing
agencies, and refer you to other adoptive parents who have completed the type of adoption you may be considering. We
have found that all of our clients are very glad to share their experiences and information with prospective adoptive
parents, and we have a huge network of adoptive families throughout the state from which to draw.
- How can I get started on my homestudy?
Simply download the brief application,
fill it out, sign the fee agreement, and send them to us along with your check. You might also want to read the welcome letter.
For most families, we assign a social worker the same day we receive these documents - so they can schedule their first homestudy meeting within a few days.
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Ryan is here because there were people who believed in our dream—you are at the top of this list! We can never thank you enough.
The adoption of our son was unique in many ways. When other agencies thought that it couldn’t be done, Helene believed in and supported us. Nathanson Adoption Services helped us adopt the child that we have always dreamed about.
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We chose Nathanson Adoption Services because of its reputation for providing outstanding adoption related services. Helene Nathanson sat down with us and made us feel like we had known her all our lives--making it so easy to share the personal information that is required for the home study. Her meetings with us also included adoption education and counseling. This education and couseling along with the compassion and respect that Helene showed us made us feel very comfortable and confident that pursuing an adoption was right for us.
Thank you for everything you did to help bring Austin into our family. We feel so fortunate to have met you, because you helped make our two year search for Austin something that we could handle. We admire the work you do, and thank you for doing it.
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