International adoption: Facts and figures

A common misconception many people have with adoption, Shane Kersh explains, is that the process itself is simple. This is not true. There are a lot of things to consider. While adopting a child in the great state of Texas may have its complications, this is doubled when adopting internationally.

While it may seem like a noble task to adopt an orphan from less-developed countries around the world and integrating the child to a perceivably better life, there are many things couples need to consider.

From 2005 to 2015, the incidence of Americans adopting children from other countries has decreased significantly, from an estimated 46,000 to 12,000. That’s around 70 percent. A huge reason for this is the fact that more and more countries have begun to ban international adoption, or at the very least strictly regulate it. The latest countries that have started doing this are South Korea, China, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, Guatemala, and Ethiopia. This is the result of the new rules on global child protection practices that have stemmed from the Hague Adoption Convention.

What makes international adoption all the more complicated is that couples also have to consider the child adoption laws of the child’s home country. Laws differ in every country à propos child adoption. Some countries are stricter, while others make it easier for adoptive parents.

However, if couples are determined to adopt a child from a foreign country, Shane Kersh highly recommends two things: that the couple go through a credible adoption agency with a good history, and that the couple should consult with an expert in family law.

Family law attorney Shane Kersh, J.D., is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is the owner and managing partner of the Houston-based Kersh Law Firm, which was established in May 2013. More on Atty. Kersh and his practice here.