By: Leslie Zindulka LCSW-R

Question: My partner and I have been living in a loving relationship for 5 years and have our wedding date set for October 2007 will this be a problem regarding adoption?

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! As I am not a licensed social worker in Australia and not familiar with the specific laws governing adoptions in your country, I will answer generally.

Being in a loving relationship for five years, six by the time of your wedding certainly demonstrates your commitment to one another. It is wonderful that you would like to start a family, as soon as possible, and provide a home for a child who needs one. That said, adopting a child and becoming a parent is a lifelong responsibility. When adopting domestically, a birth mother may look for a couple who has been together for many years, as you and you fiancé’ have been and not be concerned with the length of you marriage, but usually would like to see a couple in a ‘better’ place than she is emotionally and financially. When adopting internationally; however, there are more stringent guidelines that must be followed regarding age and length of marriage. For example, in Korea you must be married at least 3 years and may not be older than 45, most other countries you must be married at least 1 year and be between the ages of 25-45 years old. So the answer to your question is really no, you’ll most likely just have to wait a little while.

ood luck with your wedding plans and hope your adoption plans work out as well.

Best Regards,
Leslie I. Zindulka, LCSW-R

Ms. Leslie Zindulka, L.C.S.W.-R is a New York State licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience in the adoption field. Ms. Zindulka has both personal and professional adoption experience. Ms. Zindulka writes a monthly column for the AdoptionDoctors.com Web site and limits her practice to adoption home studies. Her clients include married couples, singles, stepparents and those over forty. Request a home study consultation