[imagesource: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels]

Choosing to adopt a child is a big decision and can be a difficult process. There are many stages that everyone needs to go through, even celebrities, including completing an adoption assessment and applying for an adoption court order. In some cases, a birth parent might try to appeal against an adoption order which can make the process more complicated.

That said, there are over 80,080 children in the care of local authorities in the UK alone, so there is a huge need for foster and adoptive parents. There are many successful adoption stories out there, and with celebrities being in the public eye, these are the stories we have access to. Read on to read about 10 celebrity adoptions you forgot about, to bring some joy to your day…

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock is no stranger to the adoption process. She adopted her son, Louis, with her now ex-husband in 2010, and later went on to adopt her daughter, Laila.

Ty Burrell

Ty Burrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Phil in Modern Family. He has also made several Broadway appearances in shows such as Macbeth. Ty and his wife, Holly, have adopted two daughters together, one in 2010 and one in 2012.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman and his wife decided to adopt children in the early 2000s. They adopted a son, Oscar, and a daughter, Ava, and said they made the conscious decision to adopt children who did not necessarily look like them.

Denise Richards

Former fashion model turned TV personality Denise Richards, and her ex-husband Charlie, have two daughters together. After their divorce, Denise decided to adopt a third child as a single parent in 2011.  

There is nothing unusual about single parenting, and single parents are absolutely considered for adoption. If you are considering adopting as a single parent, there is lots of advice and support out there.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis adopted her daughter, Genesis, in 2011. She told InStyle, “There are so many ways to mother rather than to carry a child in your body. So many children need parents, and so many of us want to mother. Know that you will experience motherhood to the full extent.”

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne

In the UK, you can adopt a child if you are over the age of 21 and single, unmarried, in a civil partnership, in an unmarried couple, the partner of the child’s birth parent. Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne took a slightly different route, adopting their son, Robert, after his mum – a close friend of Sharon’s – passed away from cancer. 

Adopting a child can be a wonderful addition to grow or start your family, even if you already have children, like Sharon and Ozzy did. The adoption process can be a long and difficult for yourself and any other children you may have. So, having the right legal advice and support is therefore essential in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Connie Britton

Connie Britton is an American actress, singer and producer. She’s appeared in shows such as American Horror Story, Nashville and Dirty John, amongst many more.

Connie adopted her son, Yoby, as a single parent. Although this isn’t always possible in every country, hopeful parents in the UK and US are in luck and can make an application to be considered. There are lots of tips out there to make the process easier for you, but it’s important to check that you are ready to adopt, especially if you’ll be in it alone.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl and her husband, Josh Kelley, adopted their daughter Nancy Leigh Mi-Eun Kelley from South Korea. Katherine also grew up with an adopted sister from South Korea, and said that she wanted her own family to resemble the one she came from.

Katherine and her husband said they also wanted to have biological children but decided to adopt first. In total, they have two adopted children and one biological child. 

Charlize Theron

Charlize has adopted two children. She adopted her first child, Jackson, from her native South Africa in March 2012 and, three years later, she adopted her daughter August from the US. Charlize said the whole adoption process was an empowering one.

Kristen Davis

Kristen Davis adopted her daughter, Gemma Rise, as a single mother. She said she wanted to adopt a child for a long time, and later went on to adopt a son too.

Ready to Start the Adoption Process?

These celebrity stories show that the adoption process is open to everyone, and no matter your relationship status, adoption can be successful. Multiple celebrities have adopted a child as a single parent as well as a married parent. Many countries will also allow same-sex couples to adopt too, so it’s always worth considering if you aren’t certain about having your own biological children.

Deciding to adopt is a big and exciting decision, so head online to complete an adoption enquiry form to get the process started if you think it’s right for you and your family. If you have any top tips on adopting a child, let us know in the comments below.