Adoption Laws

Adoption law differs from state to state, and federal laws also affect many procedures connected with the adoption process. It's important that adopting and placing parents, as well as those searching for family members, learn what these laws allow.

State Laws Concerning Adopting & Placing Parents & the Adoption Process

• Laws by State (full text)
  Access to Adoption Records, Consent to Adoption, Parties to Adoption, Putative Fathers, Regulation of Adoption Expenses, Infant Safe Haven Laws, Use of Advertising & Facilitators in Adoptive Placements, Statute Sources & Contact Information
  
  
• Summaries of State Laws concerning:
  • Consent to Adoption
  • Parties to an Adoption
  • Putative Fathers
  • Regulation of Adoption Expenses
  • Summaries of Laws Regarding Adoptions Finalized Abroad
• Resources for State Adoption Statutes
• State Putative Father Registries

State Laws Concerning Access to Adoption Records

Select a State: Pick a state... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Federal Statutes Concerning Adopting & Placing Parents & the Adoption Process

• Abandoned Infants Assistance Act
• Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997
• Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980
• Child Abuse Amendments of 1984
• Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2000
• CAPTA Amendments of 1996
• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and Adoption Reform Act of 1978
• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1974
• Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1992
• Child Citizenship Act of 2000
• Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)
• Foster Care Independence Act of 1999
• Immigration Vaccine Act
• Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978
• Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000
• Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003
• Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) of 1994
• Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001

International Adoption Laws

• Hague Convention on Protection of Children

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