Whether you’re considering placing a baby for adoption or hoping to adopt a child into your own forever family, an adoption agency in South Carolina will be one of your best resources for support. The adoption process in South Carolina can differ from other states, so working with professionals and getting all the information you can up front is in your best interest.
Considering Placing Your Baby or Child for Adoption? You can learn more here or call an adoption counselor 1-800-236-7898.
Domestic Infant Adoptions can be completed through a South Carolina adoption agency or adoption attorney. Click here for a directory of adoption service providers in South Carolina.
International Adoptions must be completed through an adoption agency or adoption attorney. Find an international adoption service provider here.
Foster Care Adoptions in South Carolina can be completed through the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Gallery of children waiting to be adopted.
Join the South Carolina adoption group in our community!
Looking for more resources in your area? Check out the Adoption Directory for a listing of adoption professionals in your state.
South Carolina is 32,030 square miles of beaches, historic sites, and other vacation hot spots. People love to visit Myrtle Beach, the golf courses, Fort Sumter, Coastal Charleston, and plenty of other places that would be both adventures and learning opportunities. But what do you know about South Carolina adoption?
As of this year, South Carolina is estimated to be home to over 5.2 million people. Many of those people are potential families looking to adopt a new child into their lives. If you are one of many birth parents asking about South Carolina adoption for your child, here are some things you should know before you consider it.
Making the decision to place your child for adoption is a big deal (to put it lightly) no matter where you are doing it. Being knowledgeable about what kinds of adoption are open to you in your area, as well as which would best fit your particular situation, is a great way to ensure that you get the best experience possible.
Like any other state or country, there are certain requirements people need to meet in order to proceed with an adoption. Whether you are the birth parent or the adoptive parent, it is good to know the general rules that apply to South Carolina adoption. As an expectant parent who may be considering adoption, it is also important for you to fully know what those requirements are and what your rights are.
Some general things to remember:
Your Rights as an Expectant Parent:
This article was just the tip of the iceberg for South Carolina adoption. The work that goes into placing a child for adoption can seem to never end, unfortunately, as there are many steps to take and options to consider. However, that does not mean you are left stranded without help or hope, of course not! There are so many different resources to explore throughout your journey, resources that can help you make decisions and get through the process. I hope at least something here or in the article can help you, wherever in that process you are.
I hope something either in this article’s body or in the resources above can help any birth parents out there who are looking for a place to start.
The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional. While the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions, or typographical errors.
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You must be at least 21 years old. All members of the household 18 and older must submit fingerprints and child abuse background information. Applicants must attend 14 hours of training to determine the type of child that would fit in the home. Medicals, home safety inspections, and 3-4 references must be submitted. Parents must complete a home study.
Advertising: Licensed child-placing agencies and attorneys are permitted to advertise for the services they provide. Parents with an approved home study may also advertise that they are open to receive a child for placement. It is illegal for adoption facilitators to receive compensation for the placement of a child in an adoptive home. However, facilitators may receive compensation for medical or legal services. § 63-9-30(5); 63-9-310(F); 63-9-710(A)(11)
Relinquishment: Consent to an adoption can be given at any time after the child’s birth. Consent can only be revoked if in the child’s best interest and the consent came under fraud or duress. § 63-9-330; 63-9-350
Birth parent expenses: Payment made be made for the following expenses: medical, hospital, and living expenses for the birth mother and child for a reasonable amount of time. All payments are subject to court approval. § 63-9-310(F)
Post-adoption contact agreements: Contact agreements in South Carolina are not legally enforceable.
Birth father rights: Unmarried fathers who wish to receive notice of adoption proceedings may file their information with the Department of Social Services Responsible Father Registry. § 63-9-810; 63-9-820
Finalization: The average time between TPR and adoption finalization in 2014 was 12.8 months.
Many of the children waiting to be adopted in South Carolina have special needs. Federal (Title IV-E) and state (non-IV-E) programs exist to help adoptive parents meet their child’s needs. In South Carolina, the maximum monthly amount ranges between $400-535. For more information on adoption assistance please visit NACAC.org.
It is always possible to adopt a child from another country, even if you live in the United States. Children under 18 adopted from a Hague Convention country entering the U.S. with an IH-3 visa may automatically receive U.S. citizenship.
Children adopted from a non convention country must qualify as orphans before receiving U.S. citizenship. When U.S. citizens finalize an adoption abroad, they must apply to the USCIS for an IR-3 visa for the child. An IR-3 visa classifies the child as an immigrant and may provide the child with citizenship upon arrival in the States.
South Carolina law requires parents to petition the court for validation or file the foreign adoption decree. In SC, parents wishing to receive a State birth certificate must submit documentation from readoption or validation of a foreign adoption.
Gallery of children waiting to be adopted: https://adoption.com/photolisting?page=1&search_type=region&range=UnitedStates
State subsidy contact:
Heather Boyles, Adoption Subsidy Coordinator
Department of Social Services
State Office Division of Adoption Services
2638 Two Notch Road
Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29204
803-898- 7727
Fax: 803-898-9053
In South Carolina adoptions can be completed through the Department of Social Services.
Parents must be at least 21 years old in order to adopt. Individuals 18 and older must complete background checks. 14 hours of parental training is required. Medicals, home safety inspections, and 3-4 references must be submitted. Parents must complete a home study.
Adoption agencies/attorneys may advertise the services they provide. Hopeful adoptive parents with completed home studies may advertise.
Consent can be given any time after birth. Parents can only revoke if proved that consent came under duress, and that revocation is in the best interest of the child.
Hopeful adoptive parents may pay medical and living expenses on behalf of the birth mother. Contact agreements in South Carolina are not legally enforceable. Unmarried fathers wishing to receive notice of adoption proceedings may register their information with the Responsible Father Registry.