Common Adoption Terminology You Should Know
Adoption OKC, and adoption in general, is a legally complex issue. You need to be sure you know what you’re getting into before proceeding. There are legal aspects of adoption and the emotional side to understand. This list will explain standard adoption terms you should be familiar with and note the difference between positive and negative uses of the terminology. An Oklahoma City adoption attorney can help you through the process of adopting a child or if that’s what you want to do. The offices of Lisa R. Howard P.L.L.C. help with Oklahoma adoption.
Common Adoption Terminology
Adoption Facilitator: A middle person or agency that connects adoptive parents with birth parents wishing to place their child in a new home. Internationally, this person or agency may help the adoptive paperwork with the paperwork needed in that country.
Adoption Tax Credit: The U.S. federal government allows taxpayers who adopt children under 18 years old (or other qualifying relatives), a potential $13,360 in deductions for qualified expenses incurred during their first year of living with the taxpayer. Consult a CPA for more information and whether you are eligible.
Birth Parent: The biological mother/father of a child placed for adoption.
Closed Adoption: An arrangement in which all the records are completely sealed. There’s no way to know who the birth parent was or to contact them. There also will be no contact between the birth-parent’s relatives and the child going forward.
Decree of Adoption: A document signed by a judge that finishes the adoption process and finalizes the adoption by the new adoptive parents. This term is like hearing the phrase “Decree of Divorce” or “Decree of Legal Separation.”
Matched: When a birth mother chooses an adoptive family and both the adoptive family and birth mother agree they are a good fit to move forward with the adoption process together.
Placement: Where a child and an adoptive parent have been matched after a baby has already been born. Sometimes this is also called a “stork-drop.”
Post Adoption Contact: This can be a verbal, written, or Court Ordered agreement between the biological parent(s) and the adoptive parent(s) regarding the details of any contact the adoptive family will have with the biological parents after the adoption is finalized.
Kinship Adoption: Where a biological relative, or sometimes a family friend, can adopt the child.
Open Adoption: An adoption that is fully disclosed to both the birth and adoptive families. A variety of different levels or degrees of contact between these two types of family members will exist as the child grows.
Petition for Adoption: This is your beginning adoption document filed with the Court.
Avoiding Negative Adoption Terminology
Adoption terminology today does its best to avoid negative connotations for all involved. Oklahoma Adoption Attorney Lisa R. Howard, P.L.L.C., truly believes that birth mothers are true heroes. Her office works hard to ensure that biological parents and adoptive families are treated with compassion, honesty, and respect during the adoption process. A variety of factors go into the decision to place a child with adoptive parents. In most cases, setting a child for adoption is done out of love for the child’s best interests. Adoptive families should always address the birth parent with a common respect for the benefit of the new family and the child if they want to learn about their origins later. It’s best to avoid terms like “gave up, put up, sent away, real mom, real dad” and other common words. Instead, replace this with “placed for adoption, blessed by an adoptive family, birth mom, birth dad,” and so on. Biological parents love the children they place for adoption greatly. How wonderful that these children have so many people to love them!
How an Oklahoma City Adoption Attorney Helps
An Oklahoma City adoption attorney can help in many ways.
- They can discuss the legal ramifications of adoption for all parties involved.
- They can explain how the child’s birth certificate will reflect their new family name once they are adopted.
- Handling post-adoption contact agreements between adoptive parents and biological relatives who may wish to maintain some form of relationship in the future (unlike a closed adoption).
- They can ensure that the numerous and detailed requirements under Oklahoma adoption law have been fully and satisfactorily met.
Contact Adoption Attorney Lisa R. Howard P.L.L.C. for Compassionate Assistance
An adoption attorney can help you with the legal and emotional aspects of adoption Oklahoma. They can help you fill out all the necessary paperwork appropriately for adoption Oklahoma City. When finished, they will work with the courts and the adoption agency or birth parent to help ensure a smooth transition. Contact Lisa R. Howard P.L.L.C. for compassionate and experienced assistance today!