"Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents."
Process and requirements for adopting a child, and the legal effects of adoption.
Types of Adoption: The different types of adoption, including domestic adoption, international adoption, foster-adopt, and open adoption.
Adoption Laws: The legal framework and requirements for adoption in different jurisdictions, including the eligibility criteria, adoption agencies, and legal procedures.
Adoption Process: The steps involved in the adoption process, from initial application to finalization, including home studies, background checks, and matching with a child.
Birth Parent Rights: The rights of birth parents in the adoption process, including their role in deciding the child's future, legal representation, and consent requirements.
Adoptive Parent Rights: The rights of adoptive parents in the adoption process, including their eligibility criteria, adoption preferences, and legal responsibilities.
Adoption Agencies: The role of adoption agencies in facilitating adoptions, including the services they provide, accreditation requirements, and ethical guidelines.
Adoption Expenses: The financial implications of adoption, including the costs of legal fees, agency fees, and medical expenses.
Post-Adoption Services: The ongoing support and services provided to adoptive families and birth parents, including counseling, legal support, and education.
Adoption and Child Welfare: The impact of adoption on child welfare, including the challenges faced by children in foster care and the need for adoption reform.
International Adoption: The unique challenges and considerations of international adoption, including cultural differences, language barriers, and legal requirements.
Adoptions in Special Circumstances: The legal and practical considerations of special circumstances adoption, including adoptions by same-sex couples, stepparents, and adult adoptions.
Adoption Reunification: The process and implications of reunification between birth parents and adopted children, including the legal process and emotional implications.
Domestic Adoption: This is the adoption of a child within the same country as the adoptive family. The child may be placed for adoption by their birth parents or through an agency.
International Adoption: This is the adoption of a child from another country. International adoptions may be done through an agency or through other means, such as private adoption.
Open Adoption: This is an adoption in which the birth parents and adoptive family maintain some level of contact or communication. This can involve sharing photos, letters or phone calls, or even in-person visits.
Closed Adoption: This is an adoption in which there is no contact or communication between the birth parents and the adoptive family after the adoption is finalized.
Stepparent Adoption: This is the adoption of a child by the spouse of the child's biological parent. This typically involves terminating the rights of the non-custodial parent.
Foster-to-Adopt Adoption: This is an adoption in which an individual or couple fosters a child with the intention of adopting them if the termination of the birth parents' rights is granted.
Domestic Partner Adoption: This is the adoption of a child by a same-sex domestic partner of the child's biological parent. This type of adoption may also be called second-parent adoption.
Kinship Adoption: This is the adoption of a child by a family member, such as a grandparent or aunt/uncle, who is not the child's biological parent.
Special Needs Adoption: This is the adoption of a child who has a physical, emotional, or mental disability, or is an older child or part of a sibling group. These adoptions may come with additional financial assistance or support.
Agency Adoption: This is an adoption in which an agency facilitates the placement of a child with an adoptive family. The agency may provide counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
Private Adoption: This is the adoption of a child in which the birth parents and adoptive family directly arrange the adoption without the involvement of an agency.
Same-sex Adoption: This is the adoption of a child by a same-sex couple or individual.
Second Chance Adoption: This is the adoption of a child by a family who already has an adopted child.
Adult Adoption: This is the legal adoption of an individual who is over the age of 18 by another adult.
Surrogacy Adoption: This is the adoption of a child born through surrogacy, in which a surrogate carries and delivers the child for the intended parent(s).
"Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parents to the adoptive parents."
"Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status."
"Adoption requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction."
"Historically, some societies have enacted specific laws governing adoption, while others used less formal means."
"Notably, contracts that specified inheritance rights and parental responsibilities without an accompanying transfer of filiation."
"Modern systems of adoption, arising in the 20th century..."
"Modern systems of adoption tend to be governed by comprehensive statutes and regulations."
"Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status."
"A person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents."
"Unlike guardianship or other systems designed for the care of the young, adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status."
"Some societies used contracts that specified inheritance rights and parental responsibilities without an accompanying transfer of filiation."
"Adoption requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction."
"Some societies have enacted specific laws governing adoption..."
"Comprehensive statutes and regulations govern modern systems of adoption."
"Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities... to the adoptive parents."
"Unlike guardianship or other systems designed for the care of the young, adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status."
"Adoption requires societal recognition, either through legal or religious sanction."
"Modern systems of adoption, arising in the 20th century..."
"Legal adoptions permanently transfer... filiation from the biological parents to the adoptive parents."