Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth mother or father. An adoption order has the effect of severing the parental responsibilities and rights of the birth parents and transferring those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parent(s). After the finalization of an adoption, there is no legal difference between adopted children and those born to the parents. There are several kinds of adoption, which can be defined both by effect (e.g., whether the adoption is open or closed) and by location and the origin of the child (i.e., domestic or international adoption).
Depending on jurisdiction and local law, they may already know of a family that want to adopt, or they may find people who want to adopt by going to a lawyer, social services, or by finding a private or state adoption agency (though privately arranged adoptions are illegal in some jurisdictions).
According to Arkansas Statute - Who Can Adopt? Any single adult; husband and wife jointly, even if one or both are minors; and the unmarried father or mother of the adoptee can adopt. A married person, without the other spouse joining, can adopt if the adoptive parent is the stepparent and the other spouse consents, the spouses are legally separated, or the court has excused the spouse from consenting to the adoption.
Arkansas Department of
Human Services
Mutual Consent
Voluntary Adoption Registry
The National Adoption Center
North American Council on Adoptable Children
National Resource Center on Special Needs Adoption
Photolistings of children available for adoption
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Tapestry Books
Perspectives Press
The Dave Thomas Foundation
for Adoption
Joint Council on International Children's Services
Various Adoption Law Web Sites
State Department Information on
International Adoption
Immigrations and
Naturalization Service
Hague International Adoption Standards
Adoption Tax Credit
information
Arkansas General Assembly
Arkansas Adoption Subsidy Guide
Search Arkansas Online
|
