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Self-Help adoption

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Adoption terms

Adoption cases often use special words, such as alleged father, that can be hard to understand. This page explains those terms.

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adoption resources

This page lists ways to get more information on adoption, including books, websites, and adoption agencies

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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.

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