Glossary of Terms - Adoption Law
Finalization
The legal process by which the adoption becomes permanent and binding.
Hague Convention on Inter-country AdoptionÂ
A multinational agreement designed to promote the uniformity and efficiency of international adoptions.
Home studyÂ
A study of the prospective adoptive family and their home, life experiences, health, lifestyle, extended family, attitudes, support system, values, beliefs, and other factors relating to the prospective adoption. This information is summarized in an adoption study or home study report.
Independent adoptionÂ
An adoption arranged privately between the birth family and the adoptive family, without an adoption agency.
Inter-country or international adoptionÂ
The adoption of a child from a country outside of the United States.
Non-identifying informationÂ
Information that allows the birth and adoptive families to learn pertinent facts about each other without revealing who they are or how they can be contacted.
Open adoption or cooperative adoptionÂ
An adoption in which the birth parents and adoptive parents have contact with each other before and/or after the placement of the adopted child.
Post-placement servicesÂ
A variety of services provided after the adoption is finalized, including counseling, social services, and adoptive family events, and outings.
Special needs childÂ
A child with medical, mental, emotional, behavioral, or educational needs that could require extra on-going attention.
Termination of parental rights (TPR)
The process by which a parent’s rights to his or her child are legally and permanently terminated, after which the child becomes eligible for adoption.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau (USCIS)Â
An agency of the federal government that approves an adopted child’s immigration into the United States and grants U.S. citizenship to children adopted from other countries.
Waiting Child
A child currently available for adoption. Waiting children may be in the U.S. foster care system, might be older, or could be special needs children.Â
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