[contentwu]

My husband is 43 and I am 42. We have been married 20 years and have a stable marriage/financial life. We have an 8 year old bio son. We will not be having anymore birth children.

We are thinking of adopting 1 or 2 younger than him.

My husband married at the very young age of 17. He had one bio child. They later divorced. At that time he relinquished his parental rights thinking it was best for the child. In time his Ex-wife remarried and the child was adopted by her new husband. Will the fact that my husband relinquished his parental rights to a child stop us from adopting now?

[WhoKnew]

Of course I can't say for sure, but I can't imagine that it would stand in your way, as it was over twenty years ago (if that is correct). Just be prepared to explain it thoroughly, without being defensive, and stress you excitement about adopting and commitment to your future children. Remember that, although it may feel like it, the workers are NOT looking for reasons to reject people. They NEED adoptive parents, but they do have to be sure the prospective parents are capable and committed.

We adopted our the four-year-old daughter when our bio daughter was 8. Good luck to you!

[DianeS]

It should not matter at all. He should be prepared to explain why it was best for the child for him to terminate his rights back then, and explain why he's ready to parent a child now. What he's learned, how it's different - that sort of thing.

It may even be seen as a benefit, because he'll understand more of the legal process and the emotions that come from not being with your bio child, and having your bio child living with and being raised by someone else.

You may run into some cautious people, of course, who ask questions, but ultimately your husband did what he thought was best for the child, and that is the kind of person they are looking for when they recruit adoptive parents.

You could also PM BrandyHagz - she relinquished a child at birth to adoptive parents and is now a foster parent. She can probably explain quite well if there were any additional issues she had in getting licenced.