Adoption can be both an exciting and confusing time in your life. As you explore the Adoption option, you will find many new and unfamiliar words. This adoption dictionary includes commonly used adoption terms that Birthparents and prospective adoptive families need to know.
Commonly Used Adoption Terms and Definitions
Adoption:
the legal process where parental rights are transferred from biological parents to adoptive parents.
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Adoptions are performed through the court system, usually in the state in which the baby is born. Each state has its own laws governing adoption, but in general all parental rights and responsibilities of the childs biological parents are terminated.
This includes responsibility for all future care, supervision, nurturing and education of the child. These responsibilities are permanently transferred to the adoptive parents who provide for the childs physical and emotional health, including all the necessary financial support .
Adoptee:
an individual who is placed with an adoptive family.
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This word is no longer considered acceptable for use in referring to people who have been adopted.
Many adopted people find this word bothersome or offensive. Having a special name for an adopted person differentiates them from other members of their family. Some people feel this suggests somehow that they are not fully a part of the family who adopted them, somehow different or perhaps even inferior in some way to a biological child.
Adopted individuals are full and equal members of the family that adopted them and a special term to differentiate them from others is not necessary and inappropriate.
Adoption Agency:
a licensed organization responsible for placing children with families or individuals who are approved for adoption.
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States (in the USA) or other government groups issue licenses to these organizations. To earn and keep a license these organizations must meet stringent requirements which can be different for each area in which they operate. Adoption Agencies assist in matching babies and children who need parents with families (couples or singles) who are hoping to adopt.
Agencies may be non-profit, not-for-profit, for-profit, or a government agency. Regardless of which form the Agency takes, the services they provide are typically similar.
Adoption Attorney:
a legal specialist who performs the necessary legal functions enabling the placement of children with families or individuals who are approved for adoption. Some provide additional adoption related services.
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This lawyer must be licensed to practice law in the state(s) where they provide adoption services. These services include, understanding how to properly apply the relevant State and Federal laws relating to the adoption of a child, filing and processing the required paperwork and finalization of the adoption in a court of law. Additionally, Adoption Attorneys may be skilled in working with potential birth parents, adoptive parents, and members of their extended families.
Adoption Attorneys may work in their own practice or be affiliated with an Adoption Agency. Because they are an adoption professional they may be able to provide access to or referrals for other services such as pre and post adoption counseling, homestudies or other services.
Adoption Facilitator:
a person who assists prospective adoptive parents find a child to adopt. Depending upon where they do business they may or may not provide assistance in for pay and may not be legal.
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Adoption Facilitators generally fall into two categories, paid and unpaid. Unpaid facilitators can usually help anyone in any of the United States. For example, a priest or rabbi, nurse or family friend can be a facilitator.
There are very few states that allow people to get paid to help facilitate adoptions, in fact it is illegal in most states. Before engaging the services of an adoption facilitator, prospective adoptive parents should check with an attorney or state licensing agency to determine what is allowed under the law. If use of a facilitator is allwed the services of an adopiton attorney will still be required in order to complete the necessary paperwork and comply with the relevant adoption laws.
Adoptive Parent:
a person who is seeking to adopt a child. Typical useage "prospective Adoptive Parent".
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This term has also been used in the past to describe a person who has adopted a child, it is generally not used this way anymore. To describe somone as an adoptive parent once they have adopted places special emphasis on how the child became part of the family and is considered both unnecessary and (by some) rude and derrogaroy.
Birthfather:
the biological father of a child. This term is typically only used in the context of adoption where the child is subsequently adopted by another family.
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The birthfather may or may not be an active participant in the adoption process. There are situations where the birth father is unknown or may want to have nothing to do with the adoption. Other times the birthfather is very involved in the adoption process.
Each state has various rules regarding adoption and gaining the consent of the birth father. Some require a signature on the legal documents, others require only that an advertisement be placed in a newspaper for a period of time (if the birth father is unknown), while still others give a birth father time to exercise parental rights (possibly as long as two years) before he is deemed to have consented by default and the adoption becomes final. You should check with a qualified adoption professional to understand the particular rules of your state.
Birthmother:
the biological mother of a child. This term is typically only used in the context of adoption where the child is subsequently adopted by another family.
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In all states, the Birthmother is required to sign legal consent papers in order to place her baby for adoption. This is called terminating parental rights.
Each state has various rules regarding this process. Some require a waiting period of anwywhere from 24 hours to several weeks or months before a Birthmother can turn over parental rights to the prospective adoptive parents.
How much contact the Birthmother has with the baby/child as he/she grows up is typically negotiated between the Birthmother/Birthparents and the prospective adoptive family. States do not usually have laws regarding contact with the Birthmother. You should check with a qualified adoption professional to understand the particular rules of your state.
Birthparent(s):
The biological parent(s) of a child. This term is typically only used in the context of adoption where the child is subsequently adopted by another family.
Closed Adoption:
an adoption where the adoptive parents and the Birthparents have no information about each other that could be used to identify them. This term is considered offensive to some people and has been replaced by "Confidential Adoption".
Confidential Adoption:
a more up-to-date term for closed adoption.
Consent Form:
is the legal document Birthparents sign to terminate their parental rights over their child.
Dear Birthmother letter:
most families (especially in an open adoption) will write a letter of introduction for Birthparents to read. It typically contains insights into their lifestyle, hopes, dreams, religion and other things they think a Birthparent will want to know. (also known as a "Dear Birthparent" letter or adoption profile)
Home Study:
the process most prospective adoptive parents must go through to be able to legally adopt. Usually includes evaluations of their relationship, inspections of their home environment, employment, financial status and criminal background checks as well as counseling.
Open Adoption:
an adoption where Birthparents and adoptive parents exchange information that could be used to identify
them. May include agreements for future contact and visits.
Revoke Consent:
the decision by either Birthparent to withdraw their consent for termination of parental rights. Where they live determines how long after placement this decision can be made.
Social Worker:
a person (usually with a Masters Degree) who provides services to prospective adoptive parents and prospective Birthparents Services are usually provided on behalf of an adoption agency or attorney and typically include counseling and homestudy preparation.
Special Needs Adoption:
an adoption where it is known or suspected that the baby may have a physical, mental or emotional disability. Includes medical conditions as well as babies exposed to drugs or alcohol.
Termination of Parental Rights:
a legally binding action that is put into effect when the Birthparents sign a consent form. Termination of parental rights ends all of the legal rights and responsibilities of the Birthparents for the baby. The form, processes and associated laws are generally different in every state.
