What Is Adoption?

What Is Adoption?

Adoption is when someone permanently and legally becomes the parent of a child who was not the child’s biological mother or father. All of the parental rights of the biological parents are terminated and transferred to the adoptive parents, who then become responsible for the child’s safety, health care, education, and development.

Adoption means taking a child into your home as a permanent family member, providing them with the love, care, and guidance they need. Children can be adopted from other countries (called international or intercountry adoption) or from within the United States (called domestic adoption.)

The adoption process is governed by laws, which are different for every country and for every state within the United States.

To find an attorney in the U.S. who specializes in adoption, contact the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, an organization whose members are attorneys who are held to high standards of ethical practice.

Additional adoption resources:

• Childwelfare.gov
• Adopting.com/domestic_adoption
  
• Adopting.com/international_adoption