Adoption - Nolo.com

Who Can Adopt a Child?

Generally, any adult who is considered a "fit parent" may adopt a child, but some states have special age or residency requirements for adoptive paren...

Types of Adoption

There are quite a few different ways to bring a child into your life, or confirm your legal relationship with one, through adoption. From agency adopt...

Stepparent Adoptions

In most states, a stepparent adoption is much easier to complete than other types of adoption, because some steps in the process may be waived or s...

Independent Adoptions

Gay and Lesbian Adoption and Parenting

There are special issues for lesbian and gay singles and couples who want to adopt or who are raising children. Lesbians and gay men bring children in...

Agency Adoptions

Using an agency to manage your adoption can help a lot: Agencies are experienced in matching children with adoptive parents and satisfying the necessa...

Adoption Procedures

If you are thinking about adopting a child, you should learn about the basic procedures used in most types of adoption. If you understand the rules ab...