Resources for Families with Adopted Children
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Home > Adoption Law and Policy

Learn about laws, policies, and practices associated with child protection and adoption systems.

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  • Benefits for Grandchildren

    More and more parents are finding themselves raising grandchildren. Social Security will pay benefits to grandchildren if benefits are not payable on the work record of a parent.

  • Bringing a Foreign-Born Orphan to the US

    Learn about the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition before you identify a foreign-born child to adopt to ensure you follow the laws of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

  • Child Citizenship Act Program Update

    The Child Citizenship Act, which became effective on February 27, 2001,amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide U.S. citizenship to certain foreign-born children-including adopted children-of U.S. citizens.

  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

    Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee or for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care.

  • Intercountry Adoption

    Information from the U.S. Department of State about the adoption processes in various countries and the U.S. legal requirements to bring a child adopted abroad to the United States. The Office of Children's Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs provides brochures describing the adoption process in numerous countries.

  • Intercountry Adoption : Where To Start

    This factsheet provides an overview of the steps involved in any intercountry adoption, although the process will vary depending on your State, your agency, and the country from which you adopt. In every case you must meet the basic requirements of U.S. immigration law.

  • Legal Considerations for Prospective and Adoptive

    Read summaries of the legal issues involved in adoption, including consent to adoption and State regulation of adoption expenses.

  • Stepparent Adoption

    The most common form of adoption is that of children by stepparents. In these situations the adopting stepparent assumes financial and legal responsibility for his/her spouse's child or children and releases the noncustodial parent of parental responsibilities, including child support. This factsheet discusses legal issues in stepparent adoptions and how to proceed.