Glossary of adoption

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Common terms used in the process of adoption of a child.

Waldmüller The Adoption

Glossary of Child Adoption Terms[edit | edit source]

  • Adoptee - An individual who has been legally adopted by one or more adoptive parents. Adoptees can be children or adults, depending on the type of adoption.
  • Adoption - The legal process by which an individual or couple becomes the legal and permanent parents of a child who is not biologically their own. Adoption can occur through various means, including domestic, international, and foster care systems.
  • Adoption agency - A licensed organization that facilitates adoptions. Agencies can be public, operating within the foster care system, or private, offering services for both domestic and international adoptions.
  • Adoption agreement - A legal document that outlines the terms and conditions agreed upon by the birth parents and the adoptive parents regarding the adoption of a child.
  • Adoption assistance - Financial or material support provided to adoptive families, often to help with the costs associated with adopting a special needs child or to support the needs of the child post-adoption.
  • Adoption decree - The legal document issued by a court that finalizes an adoption, legally establishing the adoptive parents as the child's legal parents.
  • Adoption plan - A plan created by birth parents, often in collaboration with an adoption professional, outlining their wishes and preferences for their child's adoption, including the type of adoption (open, closed, etc.) and the selection of adoptive parents.
  • Adoption professional - An individual or organization that provides services related to adoption, including social workers, adoption agencies, and adoption attorneys.
  • Adoption services - A broad range of services provided to support the adoption process, including home studies, post-placement services, and counseling for birth parents and adoptive families.
  • Adoption triad - The three primary parties involved in an adoption: the birth parents, the adoptive parents, and the adoptee. This term highlights the interconnected relationships within an adoption.
  • Adoptive parent - An individual who has become the legal parent of a child through the process of adoption. Adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as biological parents.
  • At-risk placement - A term used to describe an adoption placement that is made before the adoption is legally finalized, during which time the adoption is still at risk of being disrupted or dissolved.
  • Birth father - The biological father of an adopted child. In the context of adoption, the birth father may have rights and responsibilities that need to be addressed as part of the adoption process.
  • Birth mother - The biological mother of an adopted child. Birth mothers may be involved in creating an adoption plan and selecting adoptive parents for their child.
  • Birth parent - The biological parent of an adopted child. This term encompasses both birth mothers and birth fathers.
  • Biological parents - The parents to whom a child is born. In adoption, biological parents legally transfer their parental rights to the adoptive parents.
  • Certified copy - A legally certified copy of an important document, such as an adoption decree, which is recognized as a valid and official copy for legal purposes.
  • Child abuse - Any form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect of a child. Child abuse is a critical consideration in the termination of parental rights and the placement of children in safer environments, including adoption.
  • Confidential adoption or Closed adoption - An adoption in which the identities of the birth parents and the adoptive parents are kept confidential, and there is no contact between the parties after the adoption is finalized.
  • Designated adoption or Identified adoption - An adoption arrangement where the birth parents select the adoptive parents for their child, often with some level of openness and communication between the parties.
  • Domestic adoption - The process of adopting a child who is a citizen of the same country as the adoptive parents. Domestic adoptions can be facilitated through public agencies, private agencies, or independently.
  • Dossier - A collection of documents required for international adoptions, compiled by prospective adoptive parents. The dossier includes legal, financial, and personal documents that are submitted to the child's country of origin.
  • Facilitator - An individual or organization that assists in matching birth parents with adoptive parents, often in independent adoptions. Facilitators are not always licensed and their roles vary by state and country.
  • Finalization - The legal process that completes an adoption, resulting in the adoptive parents becoming the child's legal parents. Finalization occurs after a court hearing and the issuance of an adoption decree.
  • Foster children - Children who are placed in the state's foster care system due to being orphaned, abandoned, or removed from their biological families due to safety concerns. Foster children may become available for adoption.
  • Foster parents - Individuals or couples who provide a temporary home for foster children. Foster parents may have the opportunity to adopt foster children placed in their care.
  • Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption - An international agreement aimed at protecting the welfare of children involved in international adoptions. The Hague Convention establishes ethical standards and procedures for intercountry adoptions.
  • Home study - An assessment conducted by a licensed professional to evaluate the suitability of prospective adoptive parents. The home study includes interviews, home visits, and background checks.
  • Independent adoption - An adoption arranged directly between the birth parents and the adoptive parents, without the involvement of an agency. Independent adoptions are subject to state laws and often involve legal and professional assistance.
  • Inter-country or international adoption - The process of adopting a child from another country. International adoptions require adherence to the laws of both the child's country of origin and the adoptive parents' country of residence.
  • Interstate compact - An agreement between states in the United States that governs the placement of children across state lines for adoption. The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) ensures that adoptions across state lines meet legal requirements.
  • Legal parent - An individual who has the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood. In adoption, adoptive parents become the legal parents of the adopted child.
  • Non-identifying information - Information about the birth parents and the adoptee's birth history that does not reveal the identities of the birth parents. Non-identifying information can include medical history, ethnic background, and reasons for adoption.
  • Open adoption or cooperative adoption - An adoption arrangement that allows for some form of ongoing contact or communication between the birth parents, the adoptee, and the adoptive parents. The level of openness varies widely in open adoptions.
  • Private adoption - An adoption that is arranged without the involvement of a public agency. Private adoptions can be facilitated through an attorney, a facilitator, or independently between the birth and adoptive parents.
  • Post-placement services - Services provided to adoptive families and birth parents after an adoption placement. These services can include counseling, support groups, and assistance with adoption-related issues.
  • Revocation - The legal act of canceling or reversing an adoption agreement or consent to adoption. Revocation periods vary by state and country, allowing birth parents a specified time frame to change their decision.
  • Special needs child - A child who may have physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities or who may be considered hard to place due to age, sibling group status, or ethnic background. Special needs adoptions may qualify for adoption assistance.
  • Stepparent adoption - The adoption of a child by the spouse of the child's biological parent. Stepparent adoptions typically require the consent of the biological parent and may involve the termination of the other biological parent's rights.
  • Termination of parental rights - The legal process by which a parent's rights to their child are legally ended. Termination is often a prerequisite for adoption, allowing the child to be legally adopted by another parent.
  • Waiting child - A child who is available for adoption, often because they are in foster care or have special needs. Waiting children may be older or part of a sibling group.
  • Adoption fraud - Deceptive practices aimed at exploiting the adoption process for financial or other gains. Adoption fraud can involve misleading adoptive parents, birth parents, or the adoption of non-existent children.
  • Adult adoption - The adoption of an individual who is over the age of majority (18 in most jurisdictions). Adult adoptions can formalize existing parent-child relationships or establish new familial bonds.
  • Child-buying - The illegal practice of purchasing a child for adoption or other purposes. Child-buying is a form of human trafficking and is condemned by international and domestic laws.
  • Child-selling - The act of selling a child for adoption, exploitation, or other purposes. Like child-buying, child-selling is illegal and considered a serious crime.
  • Child laundering - The practice of acquiring children through illegal or unethical means and then ""laundering"" them through the adoption system to make the adoption appear legal.
  • Embryo adoption - The adoption of a human embryo, allowing the adoptive mother to carry and give birth to the adopted child. Embryo adoption involves the transfer of embryos remaining from another couple's in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.
  • Interracial adoption - The adoption of a child by parents of a different race. Interracial adoptions can present unique challenges and opportunities for building diverse families.
  • LGBT adoption - The adoption of a child by lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals or couples. LGBT adoption laws vary widely by country and state.
  • Adoption disclosure - The process of revealing identifying information about the birth parents, adoptive parents, or adoptee, typically in open or semi-open adoptions. Disclosure is carefully managed to respect the privacy and wishes of all parties involved.
  • Adoption reunion registry - A registry that facilitates contact between adoptees and their birth families. Reunion registries can help adoptees and birth parents reconnect, often after many years of separation.
  • Disruption (adoption) - The termination of an adoption process before it is finalized, often due to concerns about the placement's suitability. Adoption disruptions can be emotionally challenging for both the child and the prospective adoptive parents.
  • Sealed birth records - Birth records that are sealed and inaccessible to the public, including the adoptee, without a court order. Sealed records are common in closed adoptions, making it difficult for adoptees to access information about their birth families.
  • Adoption in ancient Rome - The practice of adoption in ancient Rome, which was used to secure heirs and continue family lines. Roman adoption practices influenced modern adoption laws and concepts.
  • Baby Scoop Era - A period in the United States (approximately 1945 to 1973) characterized by high rates of adoption, often involving the coercion of unmarried mothers to relinquish their babies for adoption.
  • Fosterage - A traditional practice in many cultures where a child is raised by someone other than their biological parents, without a formal legal adoption. Fosterage can be a temporary or long-term arrangement.
  • Forced adoption in Australia - The practice, particularly from the 1950s to the 1970s, of forcibly removing babies from unmarried mothers in Australia for adoption. Forced adoptions have been the subject of public apologies and inquiries in Australia.
  • Home Children - Over 100,000 orphaned, abandoned, or impoverished British children sent to Canada and other Commonwealth countries between 1869 and the late 1930s for adoption or labor. The Home Children program has been criticized for its treatment of these children.
  • Adoption law - The body of law governing the process and legality of adoption. Adoption laws vary by country and state, covering issues such as who can adopt, who can be adopted, and the process for adoption.
  • Access to Adoption Records Act - Legislation in some jurisdictions that allows adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents access to certain adoption records. The act aims to balance privacy concerns with the rights of individuals to know their biological heritage.
  • Adoption Information Disclosure Act - A law that facilitates the disclosure of information between adoptive and birth families, often within the framework of open or semi-open adoptions.
  • Adoption and Safe Families Act - A United States federal law enacted in 1997 to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in the foster care system. The act emphasizes the importance of timely adoption placements for children.
  • Christian law of adoption in India - The legal framework governing adoption within the Christian community in India. Christian law of adoption varies from the adoption laws applicable to Hindus, Muslims, and other religious groups in India.
  • Foster Care Independence Act - A United States federal law enacted in 1999 to provide support for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system. The act aims to improve outcomes for former foster children.
  • Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (1956) - The legal framework governing adoption within the Hindu community in India. The act specifies eligibility criteria for adoptive parents and children and establishes legal procedures for adoption.
  • Islamic adoptional jurisprudence - The body of Islamic law and tradition related to adoption. Islamic adoption practices emphasize the care of orphans and needy children, with specific rules regarding inheritance and the preservation of biological lineage.
  • Uniform Adoption Act - A model law proposed in the United States to standardize adoption procedures and requirements across states. The Uniform Adoption Act aims to simplify the adoption process and protect the rights of all parties involved.




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