Various kinds of adoptions are available and children can be adopted from different places.
Any adoption process has specific guidelines and protocols to be followed.
But, some general rules to be followed by any adoption are present.
There are also some restrictions and specifications for adopting, irrespective of the type of adoption and the place from where the child is adopted from.
First among the several rules, deal with the adoptive parents' or parents' age.
In some states these parents should be within the age group of 30-50 years while in some others, they can be within the age group of 25-35 years.
Some do not have an age bar.
These age limits are specific to the kind of adoption.
Apart from the parents' age, guidelines for the adopted child's age are also available.
Some countries or agencies match children with adoptive parents according to their respective ages.
Generally, children of age 6 to 18 months are matched with young adoptive parents.
This matching of age is something that is done at the discretion of the organization or agency.
Health history is another issue that contributes to the general rules.
This enables one o restricts adoptive parents.
Some of the rules that are followed based on the health history are absence of alcoholism, history of deep depression and mental health issues.
It is again at the discretion of the agencies that restrictions are enforced based on health history.
A major role is played by finances in formatting the rules for adoption.
This means that adoptive parents have to give assurance to the agency stating that they have a sound financial status required to support the child adopted.
Requirements based on finances are set for any kind of adoption.
The next rule is based on criminal records held by parents.
Children are not placed in families holding criminal records.
This is because they need a crime and violence free environment to be brought up in and thus the parents' criminal records are looked into.
Rules are also framed based on the marital status of parents.
These enforce requirements on parents like marital problems, yeas of marriage and past divorces.
Every country or agency has their own set of rules based on marital status.
Single parents are also allowed to adopt some children.
Education plays a vital role in every individual's life and this also forms a part of the general rules.
Adoptive parents should have a certain level of education if they wish to adopt a kid.
A rule based on the number of children already present in the household is available.
This also forms an important aspect in the decision - making by agency or a country and depends on the individual agency or country.
Household specifications are also included in the general rules.
For instance, if a new born baby is in a family, the adoption process has to wait.
These specifications also depend on the countries, agencies and the individuals.
Specifications regarding religion are also included in the list of general rules.
Some beliefs do not support medical treatments and beliefs of this kind are also very important in making a decision based on adoption.
Thus rules based on religion are laid down by every country, organization and agency.
Generally, specifications on citizenship are also present in the general rules.
This is also at the discretion of the country, organization and agency.