[devildogwife]

I am looking into preadoption requirements for California, and i just spoked to a woman at homestudy agency in San Diego who said that in the state of CA, you must be 25 to adopt internationally, even though on the uscis website, it says as long as you're 21 and married, you're fine. We'll be 23 when we start, and married for 2 years. She told me that for international you had to be 25, but domestic might be younger. I'm confused because we meet the age requirement for the country we want to adopt from, but we might not for the state. And the thing is, we're not even CA residents! We're Nebraska residents unfortunately stationed in CA. Does anyone know if you do have to be 25?

[SanInUtah]

Originally Posted by devildogwife

I am looking into preadoption requirements for California, and i just spoked to a woman at homestudy agency in San Diego who said that in the state of CA, you must be 25 to adopt internationally, even though on the uscis website, it says as long as you're 21 and married, you're fine. We'll be 23 when we start, and married for 2 years. She told me that for international you had to be 25, but domestic might be younger. I'm confused because we meet the age requirement for the country we want to adopt from, but we might not for the state. And the thing is, we're not even CA residents! We're Nebraska residents unfortunately stationed in CA. Does anyone know if you do have to be 25?

Foreign adoption is going to have different criteria for different countries. I really think you fall into the window in every country that I've ever researched, so why would CA be any different? That makes no sense. Is there someone on your local base who can help with questions like this one?

When I adopted in CA I was 36, so this wasn't an issue that affected me. Still, my son's siblings were adopted by an Army family and had different challenges. We were all adopting through the state foster system and the state worked to accomodate the other family's needs as best they could. It meant accelerating finalization (within legal limits) and working with long absences on the dad's part, housing structure, ect.

A private homestudy is more pliable than the state version...I just don't get how they can be more demanding. Hmmmmm. I'd look around a bit, talk with other adoptive families on base, even if you live in private housing! (If there's a Navy hospital in your area the ped's clinic might have a referral info number.)

[devildogwife]

Thanks for the great info! I appreciate it!