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Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth mother or father. An adoption order has the effect of severing the parental responsibilities and rights of the birth parents and transferring those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parent(s). After the finalization of an adoption, there is no legal difference between adopted children and those born to the parents. There are several kinds of adoption, which can be defined both by effect (e.g., whether the adoption is open or closed) and by location and the origin of the child (i.e., domestic or international adoption). Depending on jurisdiction and local law, they may already know of a family that want to adopt, or they may find people who want to adopt by going to a lawyer, social services, or by finding a private or state adoption agency (though privately arranged adoptions are illegal in some jurisdictions).
According to Arkansas Statute - Who Can Adopt? Any single adult; husband and wife jointly, even if one or both are minors; and the unmarried father or mother of the adoptee can adopt. A married person, without the other spouse joining, can adopt if the adoptive parent is the stepparent and the other spouse consents, the spouses are legally separated, or the court has excused the spouse from consenting to the adoption.
Arkansas Department of Human Services Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry The National Adoption Center North American Council on Adoptable Children National Resource Center on Special Needs Adoption Photolistings of children available for adoption Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Tapestry Books Perspectives Press The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Joint Council on International Children's Services Various Adoption Law Web Sites State Department Information on International Adoption Immigrations and Naturalization Service Hague International Adoption Standards Adoption Tax Credit information Arkansas General Assembly Arkansas Adoption Subsidy Guide |