Adoption Process

Adoption is the legal act of transferring parental rights to the adopting parents. However, the process of getting to that long-awaited moment is different for the different types of adoption.

In some cases, a child's biological parent(s) may transfer parental rights directly to the adopting parents; in others, voluntary relinquishment can be made to an agency, a representative of the court, or the state. In the case of an involuntary termination of parental rights, the state becomes responsible for the child until an adoption is finalized.

For example, if you choose a fost-adopt program, your first step will be to become a licensed foster parent. If you are already a foster parent who decides later on to adopt a child in your care, your first step will be an adoption homestudy. If you choose to adopt internationally, the first step is choosing a country... and so on.

Learn about the types of adoption and the process involved:

• International Adoption
• International Special Needs Adoption
• Waiting Child Adoption
• In-Family (Relative/Kinship) Adoption
• Stepchild Adoption
• Older Child Adoption
• Adult Adoption
• Military/Overseas Adoption