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About the Author | |
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Introduction | |
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An Overview of Adoption | |
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What Is Adoption? | |
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The Uniform Adoption Act | |
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Who May Adopt? | |
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Eligibility by Age | |
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Eligibility by Residency | |
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Sexual Orientation of the Adoptive Parent | |
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Who May Be Adopted? | |
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Adoption of a Child | |
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Adoption of an Adult | |
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Who May Place a Child for Adoption? | |
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Agency and Department Placement | |
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Non-Agency Placement | |
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Types of Adoption | |
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Agency Adoption | |
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Private Placement Adoption | |
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Independent Adoption | |
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Advertising | |
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Intermediaries | |
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The Open Adoption | |
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The Stepparent Adoption | |
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The Relative Adoption | |
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Foster Care Adoption | |
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Foster Parent Adoption | |
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Legal Risk Placements | |
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Concurrent Planning | |
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Benefits of Foster Parent Adoption | |
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Costs of Foster Parent Adoption | |
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The Adoption Process | |
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Jurisdiction and Venue | |
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The Home Study | |
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Purpose of the Home Study | |
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Elements of the Home Study Process | |
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Training Sessions | |
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Interviews | |
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Home Visit | |
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Health Statement | |
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Autobiographical Statement | |
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References | |
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The Background Check | |
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Criminal Record Check | |
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Disqualifying Crimes | |
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Federal Legislation | |
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The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFSA) | |
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The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) | |
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The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 | |
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The Home Study Report | |
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Collection of Family Information About the Adopted Child, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents | |
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Who May Collect Information | |
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Information About the Adopted Child | |
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Information About the Birth Parents | |
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Information About the Adoptive Parents | |
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The Placement Process | |
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Finalizing the Adoption | |
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The Adoption Petition | |
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Notice | |
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The Adoption Hearing and Order | |
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The Costs of Adoption and Available Resources | |
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In General | |
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Types of Adoption Expenses | |
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Universal Expenses | |
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Cost of the Home Study | |
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Legal Fees and Court Costs | |
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Adoption-Specific Expenses | |
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Foster Care Adoption Costs | |
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Domestic Infant Adoption Costs | |
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Licensed Private Agency Adoption Costs | |
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Independent Adoption Costs | |
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Facilitated/Unlicensed Adoption Costs | |
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International Adoption Costs | |
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State Regulation of Adoption Expenses | |
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Birth Parent Expenses | |
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Agency Fees and Costs | |
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Intermediary Fees | |
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Reporting Requirements | |
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Adoption Assistance Resources | |
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Adoption Assistance for Special Needs Children | |
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Eligibility for Adoption Assistance | |
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Limitation on Adoption Assistance | |
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Termination or Modification of Adoption Assistance | |
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Employer Benefits | |
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Information Resources | |
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Financial Assistance | |
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Parental Leave | |
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Eligibility and Conditions | |
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Loans and Grants | |
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Tax Credits | |
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Federal Adoption Tax Credits | |
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State Tax Credits | |
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Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number | |
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Consent to Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights | |
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Requirement of Consent | |
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Right to Consent | |
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Birth Parents | |
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Other Person or Legal Entity | |
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Consent of the Child | |
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Timing of Consent | |
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Manner of Consent | |
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Minor Birth Parent | |
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Revocation of Consent | |
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Consent Obtained by Fraud, Duress or Coercion | |
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Consent May Be Withdrawn Within Specified Time Period | |
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Consent Must Be Withdrawn Within Specified Time Period Unless Fraud or Duress | |
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Revocation of Consent in Best Interests of Child | |
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Withdrawal of Consent in Best Interests of Child | |
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Mutual Agreement of Parties | |
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Prior to Adoption Finalization | |
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Rights of Putative Fathers | |
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Constitutional Rights | |
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Putative Father Registries | |
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Information Maintained in Registry | |
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Access to Registry Information | |
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Revocation of Paternity Claim | |
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Termination of Parental Rights | |
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Grounds for Termination | |
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Requirements for Termination under the Adoption and Safe Families Act | |
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Exceptions to Termination | |
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Infant Safe Haven Laws | |
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Safe Haven Providers | |
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Unintended Negative Consequences | |
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Post-Adoption Considerations | |
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Post-Adoption Contact Agreements | |
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Parties to the Agreement | |
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Enforceability | |
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Resolving Disputes and Mediation | |
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States Without Enforceable Post-Adoption Agreements | |
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Access to Adoption Records | |
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Non-Identifying Information | |
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Restrictions on the Release of Non-Identifying Information | |
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Identifying Information | |
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Restrictions on the Release of Identifying Information | |
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Mutual Consent Registries | |
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Other Methods of Obtaining Consent | |
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Original Birth Certificate | |
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Inheritance Rights of Adopted Children | |
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Birth Parents and the Adopted Child | |
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Adoptive Parents and the Adopted Child | |
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International Adoption | |
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In General | |
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Choosing the Country | |
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Eligibility to Adopt a Foreign-Born Child | |
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Foreign Adoption by a United States Citizen | |
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The Two-Year Co-Residency Provision | |
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The Orphan Petition | |
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Orphan Status | |
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Foreign Adoption by a Non-U.S. Citizen | |
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Long-Term Nonimmigrant Visa Holders | |
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Legal Permanent Residents | |
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Role of the U.S. Government in International Adoption | |
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The U.S. Department of State | |
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Appendices | |
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Table of State Adoption Statutes | |
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Directory of State Adoption Information Websites | |
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Uniform Adoption Act (1994) | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing Advertising in Private Placement Adoptions | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing the Use of Intermediaries in Private Placement Adoptions | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing Court Jurisdiction and Venue Over Adoption Proceedings | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing Criminal Background Checks for Prospective Adoptive Parents | |
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Table of Allowable Adoption Expenses | |
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Qualified Adoption Expenses (IRS form 8839) | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing Consent in Adoption Proceedings | |
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Table of State Laws Governing the Rights of Putative Fathers | |
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Table of State Infant Safe Haven Laws | |
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Table of State Statutes Governing Intestate Inheritance Rights of Adopted Children | |
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Glossary | |
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Bibliography and Additional Reading | |