Information for those interested in or involved in adoption, including adoptees and birth parents.
Note: to adopt a foster child, or a child that the Court has placed in your home, talk to a lawyer or go to the Juvenile Dependency section of this website
agency adoption
This is when parents adopt through a licensed private adoption agency. Birth parents give up their rights as parents to the agency. Either the Department of Social Services or a licensed adoption agency asks the Court for permission for the adoption.
independent adoption
An independent adoption (also called an Open or Private Adoption) is when the birth parents and the adoptive parents make an agreement that the adoption should go forward. And Adoption Placement Agreement is part of the adoption process.
stepParent adoption
Stepparent Adoption is when the spouse of a child's custodial parent adopts that child. Social Services prefers that the stepparent be married to the other parent at least one year before adoption. There will be a hearing in Court.
adoption hearing
To finalize the adoption, you must have a hearing in Court. This page tells you how to schedule your hearing, and what to do before and after your hearing
rights of birth parents
This page answers common questions about the rights of the birth parents (also called biological parents). There is also information about alleged paternity.
birth records
This section tells you how to get birth records and adoption files from the Court. Adoptees cannot see their adoption files without an order of the Court.
Adoption terms
Adoption cases often use special words, such as alleged father, that can be hard to understand. This page explains those terms.
adoption resources
This page lists ways to get more information on adoption, including books, websites, and adoption agencies
adult adoption
This page covers adult adoption. An adult adoption is when someone adopts a person who is over 18 and not related to them.