Most of the time, when a family adopts a child, that adoption is for life. The child joins the family and remains with it just as a biological child would.
However, this is not the case in all adoptions. Reports say that as many as 5% of adoptions get reversed annually. Experts generally put it from 1% to 5%.
Now, some cases may happen almost immediately. For instance, parents may adopt a newborn and realize after a matter of months that they were not actually ready to become parents.
That said, some adoptions get reversed after far longer. For instance, one family with multiple biological children and a 10-year-old adopted daughter decided to put her back up for adoption. She had been part of that family almost all of her life. They still reversed it and sent her to find a new family.
So, what happens to children caught in such a difficult situation? Second-chance adoptions often take place. New families can officially adopt these children and take over those parental rights and responsibilities.
For some prospective parents, the idea of adoption centers around giving a child a loving home when they would not have one otherwise. They may feel drawn to these second-chance adoptions because these older children know in a unique way what it is like to find themselves without a family.
If you decide to adopt, second-chance adoptions may be something you want to consider. Make sure you carefully look into all of the steps you’ll need to take, the obligations you’ll have and how to get this process started.