Adoption Law

Adoption occurs when an adult becomes the legal parent of a child who is not biologically his own. Adoptive parents accept full custody and become responsible for all child support costs and obligations. In addition, the adopted child is in turn granted all inheritance rights. When an adoption is finalized, the biological parents terminate their parental rights; however, in some instances birthparents request (and are awarded) legal contracts that guarantee them retention of some of those rights. In cases of stepparent adoption, only the non-custodial parent (the parent who does not have custody) forfeits his parental rights.

Learn more about adoption:

Types of Adoption
The Adoption Process
Adoption FAQs
Adoption Glossary