Understanding Adoption

The term adoption refers to the legal process by which an individual or couple acquires all of the responsibility and all of the parental rights that a biological parent would normally have for a particular child. In other words, an adoption is the legal process by which an individual assumes responsibility for a child's care, safety, and well-being and gains the rights associated with being a parent. Most adoptions are typically a long and complicated process as a great deal of effort is placed into ensuring that each child is going to a safe home. The adoption process is also usually further complicated by the fact that the exact process that an individual or couple must go through in order to adopt a child can vary greatly from state to state as each state has its own distinct laws, regulations, and requirements related to adoption. However, there are usually certain steps that an individual will have to take regardless of where the adoption takes place.

First, once an individual or a couple has decided that they are interested in adopting, the individual or couple should seek out information regarding the requirements to adopt for the specific state or country from which the individual or couple is planning to adopt. In fact, in certain states, an individual or couple interested in adopting a child will be required to attend a seminar, meeting, or course, which describes the specific requirements that must be met in order for an individual to adopt. If the individual or couple is not required to attend an adoption information seminar, the individual or couple will usually be able to find information about the specific adoption requirements for a particular area from the US State Department if the individual or couple is planning to adopt from a foreign country or a State Adoption Specialist from the state in which the adoption would take place if the individual or couple is planning on adopting within the United States.

Usually, once the individual or couple understands the requirements that must be met in order to adopt, the individual or couple will need to seek out a private adoption attorney or an adoption agency. The attorney or agency will then help the individual or couple file the paperwork associated with applying for adoption in the specific state or country in which the individual or couple is planning to adopt. The individual or couple will then be required to take part in a home study. During a home study, the individual or couple will have to meet with a social worker that will attempt to determine whether or not each individual involved would be an effective parent, whether or not each individual involved understands what it means to adopt, and ensure that each individual is willing to go through the entire process. The social worker will then submit a written evaluation to the state.

Once the home study is complete and it has been determined that the individuals may adopt, the placement process begins and the individual or couple can seek out a child.

Prepared by the Shannon Cavers Law Firm at Houston Adoption and Family Lawyer. You can find more information at her law blog at Houston Divorce Attorney and Family Law Blog.