What Is Adoption?
Author: Jean Rennick

Deciding to adopt a child is one of the most important
decisions you will make. Not surprisingly, it can be a very
difficult decision to make. In considering adoption, you need to
address a number of physical, emotional and legal issues.

Because of the complexity of the process, many people are
reluctant to adopt. However, the right information can help to
make the decision a little easier. To properly consider
adoption, you need to have an understanding of adoption, and the
adoption process.

Adoption, broadly defined, is a legal process that creates a
permanent legal relationship between a couple or single adult,
and a child. In many, but not all, cases, childless couples are
matched with orphans, children without parents. A large part of
adoption is this matching process.

Because adoption is a legal process, it goes much further than
simply making suitable family matches. Parental rights and
responsibilities are given to the adopting parents, and the
adoptive child is granted the legal, emotional and social rights
and responsibilities of a natural family member.

Once the adoption process is complete, the adoptive child is
legal offspring, and has the same rights as any biological
child, including the rights of inheritance.

To finalize an adoption, court proceedings are required. As
part of these court hearings, the court must identify the
biological parents of the potential adoptee. This is done, in
part, to assure that the adoption is fair and lawful, and
capable of withstanding any external conflicts.

The difficulty of determining biological parentage varies,
depending on state law, and the circumstances of the adoption.
One frequent scenario consists of a child who is a ward of the
court--they are orphans, or the rights of their biological
parents have been terminated by the courts.

Another scenario includes the adoption of an infant born to a
teenage single mother, and the termination of the rights of the
biological parents is done within the same court proceedings to
finalize the adoption.

In the process of adoption finalization, the family court judge
reviews all the gathered information about the child, their
biological parents, and the adoptive parents. This information
can include:

- the home study results
- an evaluation of the adopting parents and an assessment of
their ability to take custody of the child
- reports from any pre-adoption counseling
- the adoption caseworker's notes and recommendations as well
as any additional information desired by the judge.

The following people are expected to be present at the adoption
proceedings:

- the adoptive parents and their attorney
- the biological parents and their attorney
- the child or children being adopted
- the legal advocate for the child
- the child's caseworker
- the caseworkers of both the adoptive parents and the
biological parents.

With the people involved present, the judge will render an
approval or disapproval of the petition for adoption. If the
petition is approved, the adoption is finalized, the Adoption
Decree is issued, and the child is made a permanent member of
their new family.


About The Author: If you or someone you know is considering
adoption, visit http://adoption.2byt.com for more informative
articles about this wonderful way to add to your family.