Why Do Adoptions Fail?

Failed matches – One of the most common reasons for an adoption not happening is a failed match. This occurs when an expectant parent chooses an adoptive family and then decides to parent. ... Disrupted adoptions – A disrupted adoption typically happens with older children adopted from foster care.

How common are failed adoptions?

Although statistics on disruption vary, a 2010 study of U.S. adoption practices conducted by the University of Minnesota and Hennepin County, Minn., found that between 6 percent and 11 percent of all adoptions are disrupted before they are finalized.

Why do failed adoptions happen?

A failed adoption may also occur in any type of adoption whether the child is an infant or an older child. An adoption may fall through due to paperwork being incorrect, documents not being processed, birth parents or adoptive parents changing their minds, or multiple other reasons.