Adoption is a legal process in which an adult person assumes responsibility for the care and support of another person (usually a child) who is not the adoptive parent's biological child. The laws governing adoption of children in the United States are state laws, and vary from state to state.
In Massachusetts, adoption is governed by state statutes that outline the legal process by which an individual or couple can become the legal parents of a child who is not their biological offspring. The process involves terminating the parental rights of the child's biological parents and establishing a new, permanent legal parent-child relationship with the adoptive parents. This process is overseen by the courts, and prospective adoptive parents must meet certain eligibility criteria and go through a home study process. The adoption laws in Massachusetts are designed to ensure the best interests of the child are served, and they address various types of adoption, including domestic infant adoption, foster care adoption, international adoption, and stepparent adoption. The Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act (Chapter 210 of the Massachusetts General Laws) provides the legal framework for adoption in the state, and it includes provisions for the consent necessary for adoption, the rights of biological and adoptive parents, and the confidentiality of adoption records.