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 Oregon, adoption is a legal process governed by Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 109. 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 come with parenthood. The adoption process requires the termination of the biological parents' legal rights, either voluntarily or by court order, followed by a legal proceeding in which the adoptive parent(s) petition the court to approve the adoption. The court will consider the best interests of the child in making its decision. Oregon law permits various types of adoptions, including agency adoptions, independent adoptions, stepparent adoptions, and adult adoptions. The process involves a home study to evaluate the suitability of the adoptive parent(s), background checks, and sometimes post-placement supervision before the adoption is finalized. Once an adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents have the same legal rights and obligations as if the child were born to them, and the child gains inheritance rights and the legal right to be supported and cared for by the adoptive parent(s).