Adopció

Adopció is the legal process by which a person becomes the permanent, legal parent of a child who is not biologically their own. Adoption transfers all parental rights and responsibilities from the birth parents or guardians to the adoptive parents and creates a legally recognized family bond. In most jurisdictions, adoption is distinct from guardianship and foster care, which do not permanently sever the legal ties to the birth family.

Types include domestic adoption, international (intercountry) adoption, adoption within kinship networks (relative adoption), stepchild adoption, and independent or foster care adoptions. Open adoption involves some ongoing contact between birth families and adoptive families; closed adoption does not.

Process and legal framework: Adoption requires consent from birth parents and/or termination of their rights by a court, along with an assessment such as a home study conducted by social services. Eligibility criteria vary by country and region, including age, marital status, and financial stability. A court finalizes the arrangement, after which the adoptive parents become the child’s legal guardians with obligations including care, schooling, and medical decisions. In many places post-placement reporting and supervision are required.

Effects and considerations: For the child, adoption provides a stable family environment but may raise questions of identity and heritage, particularly in international or transracial adoptions. Laws regarding access to original birth records and post-adoption contact differ widely. For families, adoption can bring emotional rewards as well as financial costs and delays; support services, counseling, and peer networks are often available.