Adoptivkinder

Adoptivkinder are children who have been legally adopted and thus become the permanent, legal children of their adoptive parents. Adoption creates a new parental relationship and, in most jurisdictions, replaces the legal ties to birth parents with a new set of rights and responsibilities for the adoptive family.

Legal frameworks vary by country. Common forms include domestic or intercountry adoption, and many systems distinguish between full (permanent) adoption and arrangements such as guardianship or temporary custody. In many jurisdictions, adopted children have rights equivalent to biological children, including inheritance in some cases, while the birth parents’ parental rights may be terminated or limited. Some adoptions are conducted as open adoptions with ongoing contact between the child and birth family, while others are more closed.

Adoption often involves social work assessments and legal processes, and many systems provide post-adoption support services. Social and psychological considerations surrounding adoptive status include issues of identity, belonging, and attachment. Open adoption arrangements can preserve some connection to birth families, whereas closed arrangements minimize contact; the approach typically depends on welfare considerations and the preferences of those involved.

Demographics and policy around adoptivkinder vary by region. Adoptive families may pursue adoption for personal or family-building reasons, and governments regulate and monitor adoption to safeguard child welfare and prevent coercion or trafficking. See also adoption, foster care, open adoption, and intercountry adoption.