Chambers wrote:
> Warp wrote:
>> Chambers <Ben### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
>>> I know at least one couple that tried for four *years* before she got 
>>> pregnant.
>>
>>   Why don't they adopt a kid?
> 
> They actually tried, and had two for about a year before the kids' 
> grandparents suddenly woke up, went to court and demanded custody.  And 
> got it.
> 
> Adoption is surprisingly difficult in the US.

The US essentially inherited its adoption laws (and much of its other 
legal code) from the United Kingdom, and our adoption laws reflect that 
heritage.  This is not to say that the UK has retained the old laws; 
they may have changed since the two nations parted ways, but the spirit 
of the original laws was obsessed with biological descent.  There was an 
instance of a woman who was denied her adopted parents' estate on their 
passing.  Things may have changed, but that's how it used to be.

In the case cited earlier in the thread, it could be that the state in 
which they tried to adopt grants to grandparents the right of first 
refusal, so much so that any failure to get their consent renders 
adoption by others invalid.  Or it could be that the law very clearly 
says that the grandparents are out of luck, but the judge decided to 
toss the law and rule in their favor anyway.

Also, the fact of whether the adoption is finalized is important; prior 
to that step, the child is a ward of the state (or even of its birth 
parents), and custody can be revoked at any time.

Regards,
John

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