July 06, 2016

Your Rights as an Adoptive Parent

The adoption process is a very legally-involved one; it can be confusing, overwhelming, and feel completely and utterly foreign. Which is why it’s so important that you understand your rights, including things like maternity/paternity leave and what’s offered under the Family Medical Leave Act, registry information, what to do if you experience a wrongful adoption, and what type of information is allowed to be disclosed to you. Here are some helpful links to resources and information regarding your rights. Remember though, adoption rights vary from state to state, so what is covered or allowable in say, Texas, might not be in California. It’s important to know your rights in your state, as well as the birth mother’s state — they can be, and often are, different.

This great link shares helpful information about a variety of different circumstances, and also lets you search for adoption lawyers in your area.

The Alliance for Children’s Rights has a great handout covering information like the Adoption Tax Credit, health coverage, financial aid and adoption assistance programs, and the Family Medical Leave Act.

The National Adoption Center has a brilliant roundup of fundamental adoption laws, as well as an overview of the legal process and the order in which it occurs. From termination of rights to legal risks, consent, navigating the birth certificate, and finalization, this is a great resource for understanding the baseline legal processes required for adoption.

The National Center for State Courts has an extremely comprehensive list of online resources for navigating the adoption process, covering everything from national adoption agencies and counsels to statistic, safe haven laws, and special needs children family assistance.

What resources were most helpful for you in navigating your adoption process?