Glossary of Adoption Terms

Navigating the process of adoption can be a complex journey, encompassing a series of terms and legal jargon. Whether you're considering an agency-assisted or independent adoption, an at-risk placement, or seeking written consent from a child's birth parents, the path to adoption is marked by many decisions and paperwork. This pathway requires you to understand unique terms that have important legal implications.

This glossary covers a broad spectrum of concepts. By grasping these terms, you'll be able to accurately navigate the adoption landscape and make informed decisions that best suit your family's needs.

Adoption Terms: Glossary

Adoptee. The child or person who is being adopted.

Adoption. A legally recognized process that creates a parent-child relationship between people who aren't biologically related to each other.

Adoption agency. An agency licensed by the state to handle adoptions. A licensed adoption agency prepares adoptive parents, counsels birth parents, performs home studies, completes paperwork, places children in homes, and performs other adoption-related functions.

Adoption agreement. The agreement in which the adoptive parent(s) and the child's birth parent(s) put into writing their understanding of the terms of adoption — including the degree of communication and contact they'll have with each other and with the adopted child.

Adoption assistance. Resources for the adoption. Assistance can include state and federal tax credits, employer subsidies for adoption, and respite care.

Adoption attorney. A lawyer who handles adoptions.

Adoption decree. The adoption decree is a legal document issued by the court when the adoption is final. It states that the adoptee is the legal child of the adoptive parents. It is also called the “adoption certificate."

Adoptee. The person being adopted. In most instances, a child.

Adoption placement. Adoption placement occurs when an adoptee is sent to live in the adoptive home. Adoption agencies often place children into homes.

Adoption plan. The birth parent(s)'s decision to allow a biological child to be adopted into an adoptive family. This process may involve private agencies that handle the adoption process.

Adoption professional. A person who handles adoptions. An adoption professional is generally licensed and provides a range of services, including child placement, help with paperwork, counseling, and information on adoption assistance.

Adoption services. Adoption services find permanent homes for children who cannot live with their birth parents or birth family, whether through voluntary or involuntary relinquishment of an adoptee. Adoption services can also include resources for prospective adoptive parents, such as counseling, access to support groups, etc.

Adoption "triangle" (or adoption triad). An expression used to describe the three-sided inter-relationships among adopted children, their birth parents, and their adoptive parents.

Adoptive parent. The mother or father of an adopted child.

At-risk placement. The placement of a child into the prospective adoptive family before the birth parent's rights have been legally extinguished.

Birth father. A man who is genetically related to the child.

Birth mother. The person who gives birth to the child.

Birth parent. A mother or father who is genetically related to the child.

Biological parents. A mother and father who are genetically related to the child.

Certified copy. A copy of an official document, like a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or divorce decree, that has been certified by an official to be authentic and bears an original seal or embossed design.

Child abuse. The mistreatment of children. Children become eligible for adoption when subjected to abandonment, neglect, or some other form of abuse that causes termination of the biological parent's rights.

Confidential adoption or closed adoption. An adoption in which the birth parent(s) and the adoptive parent(s) don't meet, don't exchange identifying information, and don't maintain contact with each other.

Designated adoption or identified adoption. An adoption in which the birth parent(s) choose(s) the adoptive parent(s) for the child.

Domestic adoption. The adoption of a child born in the United States.

Dossier. A collection of required documents sent to a foreign country to process the adoption of a child in that country's legal system.

Facilitator. A person or organization that arranges domestic or international adoptions.

Finalization. The legal process by which the adoption becomes permanent and binding.

Foster children. Children in the custody of a state or county child welfare organization waiting for parents. In many cases, the legal rights of the biological parents are terminated, and the children are waiting for placement in an adoptive home.

Foster parents. A foster parent is a person who cares for children the county or state has removed from their biological parents' care.

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. An agreement among the nations that outlines safeguards in international adoptions for adoptive children and adoptive parents. About 100 countries are Hague-compliant.

Home study. A review of the prospective adoptive family and their home, life experiences, health, lifestyle, extended family, attitudes, support system, values, beliefs, and other factors relating to the prospective adoption. This information is summarized in an adoption study or home study report. Social workers often conduct home studies.

Independent adoption. An adoption arranged between the birth family and the adoptive family. An adoption agency is not involved.

Inter-country or international adoption. The adoption of a child from a country outside of the United States.

Interstate compact. The “Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children" (ICPC). An agreement among the states that details the steps necessary for adoption of children across state lines. It's aimed at making sure children receive sufficient protection and services.

Legal parent. A biological parent whose rights to the child have not been terminated. A legal parent is also an adoptive parent who has been granted legal and physical custody of the adopted child.

Non-identifying information. Information that allows the birth and adoptive families to learn pertinent facts about each other without revealing who they are or how they can be contacted.

Open adoption or cooperative adoption. A type of adoption in which the birth parents and adoptive parents have contact with each other before and/or after the placement of the adopted child.

Private adoption. Private adoption is also called independent adoption. An adoption agency is not involved. Prospective adoptive parents and birth parents find each other and complete the adoption process using an attorney rather than an adoption agency.

Post-placement services. A variety of services are provided after the adoption is final, including counseling, social services, and adoptive family events and outings.

Revocation. Revocation is an attempt to reverse the adoption. State law controls revocation. This means the rules for revocation vary from state to state. Some states don't allow revocation. Some states allow revocation, but only under very limited circumstances. Some states allow revocation but only if done in a certain period of time.

Special needs child. A child with medical, mental, emotional, behavioral, or educational needs that could require extra ongoing attention.

Stepparent adoption. Some adoptions are stepparent adoptions. This means that stepparents adopt their stepchildren. Similarly, family members may also seek to adopt a niece, nephew, or grandchild because of the death or incapacitation of the biological parents.

Termination of parental rights. The process by which a parent's rights to his or her child are legally and permanently terminated, after which the child becomes eligible for adoption.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau (USCIS). An agency of the federal government that approves an adopted child's immigration into the United States and grants U.S. citizenship to children adopted from other countries.

Waiting child. A child available for adoption. Waiting children are in the U.S. foster care system, are older, or are special needs children.

Get Professional Legal Help With an Adoption

As you can see from the glossary of adoption terms, the process is quite complex and varied. A legal professional can make sure you make the right choices and file the correct paperwork on time while understanding what you're getting into. Get started today and contact an experienced adoption law attorney near you.