Adoption

No state regulations explicitly prohibit single LGBTQ individuals from petitioning to adopt. Nonetheless, the adoption process for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents differs. There are always hurdles (some expected and others unexpected) during an...

The United States Supreme Court heard three hours of arguments in November on the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. This sweeping law makes it difficult to remove American Indian children from their heritage and tribes. The arguments were for...

Foster-care adoption involves a child in foster care because their biological parents had their rights terminated by the court. The causes are often related to such issues as neglect, physical abuse, or substance abuse by the parents. The children placed in foster...

There are many steps in the adoption process. The steps will vary depending upon the details regarding the adoptive family, but the home study is one step that all families must take. Some may feel anxiety with this step because it judges the prospective parent. It...

Many parents bring pre-existing children into a marriage, regardless of whether it is the first or subsequent marriage. Ideally, the couple strengthens their love and bond, which can lead to a discussion of formalizing a role they may already play in the lives of...

The decision to expand the family through adoption is exciting but has many important details to address before the process is complete. No decision is more critical than choosing open, mediated or closed adoption. There are no right or wrong answers. Instead, it's a...

Growing a family through adoption is rewarding on many levels. Parents can pursue domestic or international adoption through a public or private agency. Nevertheless, some seek other forms of domestic adoption known as private or independent adoption. The advantages...

Adoption is one of the most exciting and yet stressful times in parents' lives. The excitement is self-evident, but the stress often involves paperwork. It's a long process with a lot of legal paperwork that needs addressing for the finalization to ensure that the...