What is Adoption?

Adoption is legal name for the procedure that allows three parties to work together to improve the life of a child. The first party is the birth parent(s). Before an adoption can proceed, birth parents must make the difficult decision to allow their parental rights to be terminated, so that their child can have a better life that the birth parent(s) can provide.

Prior to the termination of their parental rights, the birth parents can be involved in the selection of the adoptive parents.

The second party is the prospective adoptive family. The adoptive parents are typically a family that wants to share their love, affection, and resources to improve the life of a child.

The third party is the child (or in some cases adult) who is available for adoption.

Legal Description

Adoption is the process through which the birth parents' rights and obligations to their child(ren) are terminated, and the adoptive parents assume these rights and obligations. Once a child has been adopted, the birth parents are no longer responsible for their child. After adoption birth parents' obligations toward their child, cease to exist. The birth parents become like any other third party with respect to the child. Once the adoption is completed, the adoptive parents become fully responsible for the child.

Adoption is a process that is established by statutory law, and is treated in accordance with the laws established by the state in which the parent and child reside. The legal procedure by which a formal legal adoption occurs differs from state to state.

The primary obligation flowing from a parent to a minor child is to be responsible for his-her health, education, and welfare. When a parent adopts a minor child, the parent must then provide for the needs of the child.