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.
In Massachusetts, adoption is a legal process governed by Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) Chapter 210. The process allows an adult, who is not the biological parent of a child, to become the legal parent with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. The process requires the termination of the biological parents' legal rights, either voluntarily or by court order, before an adoption can take place. Prospective adoptive parents must go through a home study process, which includes background checks, interviews, and home visits to ensure the suitability of the adoptive home. The adoption must be approved by a court, which will consider the best interests of the child. There are different types of adoption available, including domestic infant adoption, foster care adoption, international adoption, and adoption by a relative or step-parent. Same-sex couples are also eligible to adopt in Massachusetts. After the adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as if they were the child's biological parents, and the child has all the rights of a biological child, including the right to inherit.