A couple that I know are thinking about adopting. They have really thought until now that it might be a really tough journey with disappointment at the end. For most people there is good reason to believe that you could be approved to adopt. One of the "issues" that all adoption agencies are aware of is that quite a number of people decide not to apply because they think that they might not be approved. In many instances they are quite simply wrong!
There are some things which might indicate that you should consider delaying your application for a while and other matters that might make it more difficult for you to adopt. There are only a few things that would make it most unlikely that you could ever adopt.

I do think that a lot of people think that some things will affect their application to adopt like sexuality but adoption by heterosexual and gay people and couples should be treated similarly by all adoption agencies. Recent research indicates that gay adopters do a very good job of parenting children and that they have as much as anyone else to offer children who are placed for adoption. You should not expect to face any discrimination because of your sexuality. Also some think that religious beliefs might count against them but agencies will often state that they approve prospective adopters "of all faiths or none". Your religion may exclude you from being considered for some children, usually where the birth parent has expressed a desire for them to be brought up in a particular faith, but it will not be a barrier to you adopting.

A lot of people think that the fact that they are not married will rule them out but unmarried couples are encouraged to apply to adopt. Couples can be straight, lesbian or gay. And of course people thing that because they are not well off agencies will reject them but although the agency will want to establish that a couple are financially secure (eg not threatened with eviction) having a certain level of income to adopt is not necessary.

Some other things that people might think would rule them out if they are on benefits. In fact you can be employed, self employed or unemployed. It will make no material difference to your application.Agencies will consider what type of accommodation you live in irrelevant unless you are renting a property where the lease is to end, and where you are expected to move out in the near future.

If you are currently, or have recently undergone fertility treatment
Most agencies will consider applicants who have undergone fertility treatment 6 months after this treatment has ended, some insist on a longer period. If you are in this position our advice is to use the time to gather information and to start to discuss all aspects of adoption with both your partner (if applicable) and your family. You have a child who is not more than two years older than the age of a child you would like to adopt All agencies insist that an adopted child should be at least two years younger than any existing children of the family. Some insist on an even greater age gap.
Agency staff will not consider a family if they cannot provide the physical space the child needs. For example, if you live in a 2 bedroom property and you already have a daughter of 10 you would not be considered for the adoption of a 7 year old boy until your accommodation changes. For those living in council properties you will probably find that you will not be re-housed on the basis of your intention to adopt in the future.

If you have a recent criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge
Agency staff will be able to advise you after being told of the offence/s, when they were committed and of the circumstances. It is quite unlikely that an Adoption Agency will consider you as a suitable applicant if you have committed an offence in the last few years. You might want to use this time to delay your application and gather evidence that would support the view that your offending is behind you.

All agencies want children adopted into a very secure family environment. Whilst you may be convinced that your relationship with your partner is going to last, Adoption Agencies prefer to see a relationship that has a significant history and many will want to select only applicants who have been together for two years or more. This makes perfect sense as it gives them an indication of how, as a couple, you have coped with problems and adversity, how you bring different strengths to your relationship, how you support one another, make decisions, and apportion tasks, etc.

The Adoption Agency is likely to want you to have settled into an area before applying. They want to feel confident that you will not move out of the area during or just after the home study. They also need to include within your home study report, details of your support networks and the links you have established within your local community. This would be very difficult to determine within a few months of you moving to a new area to live.

It is quite natural for many who have lost a child to consider adoption. Adoption agencies will want to make sure that you have come to terms with your loss and given yourself sufficient time to grieve. Agency staff are likely to be concerned that you are able to cope with the anxiety and stress that most adopters go through during the assessment process.

If you have an illness one of the first steps you should take if you think you want to adopt is to discuss your making an application to adopt with your GP. He or she will probably be prepared to advise you of the information they will give to the adoption agency and any supplemental information they would provide.

The agency will have their own medical adviser who will also be asked for their opinion. This advice is likely to concentrate upon the impact of your last illness, your response to any treatment, any indication that the illness might occur again, and the long-term outlook.

If you are suffering from a progressive illness the agency will pay considerable attention to how predictable is its progress and its impact upon your ability to physically care for a child over the long-term. If you have suffered from cancer the agency will want you to have been given the 'all clear' and many expect a reasonable amount of time to have elapsed since then.