Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Common Terms Used for Adoption

Below is a list of some of the common terms used in adoption. If I ever use a term that you are unsure of please pose a question in the comments.


Adoptee: person who has been adopted.

Adoption: a legal and social process involving the transfer of parental rights from a child’s birth parents to his adoptive parents.

Adoption Agency: state-licensed organization that facilitates the placing of children with prospective adoptive individuals or families.

Adoption Agreement: document signed by birth parents and adoptive parents that outlines the frequency and level of contact between them after the adoption takes place.

Adoption Decree: court document issued to the adoptive parents after an adoption has been finalized.

Adoption Facilitator: individual who helps match prospective birth parents and adoptive parents.

Adoption Match: process in which adoptive parents connect with prospective parent(s).

Adoption Plan: legally non-binding arrangement between birth parents and adoptive parents regarding the placement and rearing of their child.

Adoptive Parent: person who legally assumes responsibilities of parenting an adopted child

Adoption Profile: autobiographical letter created by hopeful adoptive parents for prospective birthparents.

Adoption Professional: individual providing adoption services.

Adoption Records: legal documents pertaining to an adoption.

Adoption Triad: three parties involved in an adoption relationship — birthparents, adoptees and adoptive parents.

Amended Birth Certificate: birth certificate issued to the adoptive parents after an adoption is finalized.

Biracial: person whose parents are of different races. Birthfather: biological father of the child placed for adoption.

Birthmother: biological mother of the child placed for adoption.

Closed Adoption: adoption in which the adoptive parents and the birth parents have no identifying information about each other or ongoing contact.

Consent Form: legal document signed by birth parents that terminates their rights over their child and transfer them to the adoptive parents

Criminal Clearance: process used by police or FBI to determine whether the waiting parent has a criminal record.

Disrupted Adoption: adoption that fails before finalization.

Facilitator: individuals who helps match prospective birth parents and adoptive parents

Finalization: legal procedure granting the adoptive parent(s) permission to adopt.

Hopeful Adoptive Parents: individuals or couple that has been approved to adopt but have not had a child placed with them.

Identifying Information: information about adoptive parents or birth parents such as full names and addresses.

Infertility: inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term.

Networking: outreach efforts by waiting parents to spread the word about their desire to adopt.

Open Adoption: adoption where birthparents and adoptive parents exchange identifying information and keep in touch after the adoption.

Open Records: accessibility to adoption records. Placement: relocation of a child into a foster or adoptive home.

Private Adoption: adoption arranged through a privately-funded licensed agency.

Private Adoption Agency: non-government stage-licensed agency that arrange adoptions.
Special Needs Child: child who may be physically, mentally and emotionally challenged.

Relinquishment Papers: legal documents that terminate birth parents legal rights to their child and transfers them to the adoptive parent(s).

Waiting Parent: another term for hopeful adoptive parents.

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